People

Sharon’s role includes Artistic Direction, leading the implementation of organisational policy and programmes, fundraising, management and development of relationships with strategic local partners and key external bodies at national level, and financial and general management of the organisation. With over 15 years of experience working in Ireland’s cultural sector, Sharon's previous positions include Touring and Outreach Manager at Moving on Music Ltd. and Education Programme Manager at the Crafts Council of Ireland, before joining Music Network initially as Performance Programmes Manager and later serving as Acting CEO.

She plays a key role in programming and curating work, and designing programmes for Music Network. Alongside managing artist liaison, artist support schemes and special projects she also focuses on building and maintaining relationships with cultural organisations and other stakeholders.

Deirdre holds a B.Eng (UCC) and an M.A. in vocal performance (CIT CSM). She has performed extensively on the national and international stage as a soprano soloist, professional choral singer and also as a traditional violinist and singer. She is the inspiration behind the popular choral website, Choirs Can. As both a performer and project curator across a wide range of genres, she has managed many tours and projects within Ireland and abroad. With experience on both sides of the performance platform, Deirdre brings a wealth of expertise to the role of Head of Programmes.

Ciarán's work includes engaging with and supporting musicians, partner promoters, venues and stakeholders throughout the country, while ensuring there's no loose ends on Music Network's engagement with the public.

He holds a BA in Commercial Modern Music from DIT (2016) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship from UCD (2020), while maintaining his career as a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist performing in various establishments throughout Ireland and the UK.

Coming from both a performance and music management background, which included running a private music teaching practice, artist management, and the curation and facilitation of care home music programmes, Ciarán brings a wealth of industry knowledge to this role.

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With a particular focus on music education initiatives and audience development, Sarah’s role includes engaging and supporting musicians, promoters and other stakeholders. Sarah holds a MMus in vocal performance from Guildhall School of Music and Drama, a BMus(Hons) 1st class from Birmingham Conservatoire, and is currently
completing a PhD on Shakespeare and Music. As a former member of Chamber Choir Ireland, vocal tutor at DKIT and vocal team leader for Music Generation, Sarah has thirteen years of experience in the fields of music performance and music education.

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The Scheme provides support for the purchase of musical instruments across the country, and Sarah’s role includes facilitating the annual application and assessment processes, as well as contributing to overall analysis and development.

Sarah graduated from National University of Ireland Maynooth with BMus and MA (Computer Music) degrees. She has worked previously at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and as the Coordinator of the Outreach Programme at Waltons New School of Music. In addition to her work with Music Network, she also teaches piano, theory and musicianship at Waltons New School of Music. Having sung previously with the NUI Maynooth Choral Society, the Maynooth Gospel Choir and the Park Singers, she now sings with the award-winning Cuore Chamber Choir.

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She earned a BA in Commercial Modern Music from DIT (2020) and furthered her education with a Masters Degree in Marketing from TU Dublin (2021). Jess seamlessly combines her musical background with valuable experience in marketing and events, bringing to Music Network a different perspective.

Working with the Head of Communications, Arantxa undertakes the design and implementation of Music Network’s donor and friend schemes, corporate partnerships, philanthropic and any other fundraising activities, with the overall aim of supporting the sustainable growth and development of an evolving organisation.

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Dolores holds a BBS from University of Limerick and is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. She has worked for the last 30 years in Ireland and the UK, in banking, construction and retail. Her wide-ranging experience and professional approach are central to supporting the implementation of the organisation’s strategic plan.

As a former Chair of the Arts Council, she is a tireless advocate on behalf of the arts and has undertaken a number of major initiatives which have had a lasting positive impact in the areas of audience development, regional touring, and fundraising and capacity-building.

As a theatre producer, Pat’s work has received critical acclaim in Ireland and throughout the world including in London's West End and on Broadway. Awards for her productions include an Olivier and two Tony nominations. Her most recent production was the highly-acclaimed show Angela’s Ashes – the Musical.

Her other current directorships include membership of the board of Dublin Theatre Festival. She is a member of International Women’s Forum and holds a diploma in History of Fine Art from IPAV, and a diploma in Corporate Governance from the Corporate Governance Institute.

Appointed 01/01/2021

Shirley has a portfolio career having worked in a range of industries and across sectors both private and public. In addition she has founded her own consulting business working across cultures internationally. Her specific areas of expertise are Strategic Talent Management, Organisational and Leadership Development, Culture and Change management. Shirley has held senior leadership positions in the Central Bank of Ireland and more recently in UDG Healthcare as Global Head of Talent.

She has an M.A. (History) from Trinity College Dublin and an MSc. (Management Science) from the University of Leicester. She is also an alumna of IMD Lausanne and Harvard Executive Education Business School. She is currently completing a PhD in Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin and holds a Diploma in Corporate Governance.

Appointed 28/03/2017

Cathal is the managing partner of Cusack & Co, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisors. The firm is a member of the MSI Global Alliance of accountants and lawyers.

He is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, a Registered Auditor and a Chartered Tax Adviser. He is also a member of the ACCA Global Council and received Accountant of the Year award from ACCA Ireland. He undertakes one off projects, tax strategies & planning, tax solutions and assurance for business and individuals.

With over 30 years’ experience in practice in both Ireland and the UK, Cathal’s range of expertise includes advising individuals and business owners on the tax impact of decisions, tax planning for non-resident individuals, the financial and exit plans of businesses, acquisitions, disposals, succession and retirement planning.

Cathal is passionate about music and previously served on the board of Newpark Music Centre.

Appointed 15/11/2019

Carl Corcoran started his career in the mid 70s when, under the moniker of Jamie Stone, he recorded three albums for EMI that featured original material and collaborations with various co-writers. In the late 70’s he moved to New York, where he pursued a career in various elements of the entertainment business. Returning to Ireland in 1999, he joined RTE Radio, broadcasting on Radio1 and Lyric fm until 2017 when he retired from the organisation. For 10 years Carl curated and presented ‘The Blue of The Night” – the acclaimed eclectic late-night programme on RTE lyric fm.

A graduate of the MA in Community Music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at UL, Carl cemented his relationship with Limerick University when in 2017 he was appointed Course Director for the inaugural year of the MA in Songwriting at the Academy. He is currently engaged in his fifth year in that role. Carl divides his time between the Course Director role, performing occasionally and promoting various activities connected with Songwriting including Public Songwriting Workshops featuring artists such as John Spillane, Sarah McQuaid and Don Mescall.

August 2020 saw Carl release his first recording in 25 years. ‘To Feel The Power of Love’ is a Lockdown rumination, created in the early days of Covid Lockdown and produced by his son Kevin, renowned keyboardist (Villagers, I Have A Tribe, Jake Clemmons, Sun Collective, Saso). Several of Carl’s songs have been recorded by other artists, most notably two separate versions of his tribute to Irish/America – a collaboration with NY songwriter Jimmy Kelly. Irish vocal ensemble Ardú have recorded two other Corcoran songs including ‘The Phoenix – A 9/11 Tribute’ (Corcoran/McGann) as featured in the NY Consulate General’s Office commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 – September 2021.

Appointed 24/09/2019

Previously, in her role as Head of Arts Participation with the Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealíon (2007 - 2013), she led out on the development of new Arts Council policies in the areas of Cultural Diversity, Arts and Disability, and Arts and Health. As well as her work as an independent arts consultant, she has worked in senior management roles such as Director of Age & Opportunity's Bealtaine Festival and Acting Director of Droichead Arts Centre in Drogheda. Orla was Regional Development Manager with Music Network from 1995 to 1999. She has served on the Boards of Dance Limerick, Create, and Barnstorm Theatre Company.

Appointed 2/10/2020

A passionate advocate of how the arts helps us make sense of the world, she has championed several award-winning Arts programs and Sponsorships at Accenture. Eithne's interest in supporting Ireland’s Startup economy resulted in her being appointed Busines Sponsor of the Accenture Entrepreneur in Residence and the Accenture Leaders of Tomorrow programs. Her commitment to creating a truly inclusive society was evident in her tireless work as Executive Producer of Accenture’s celebration of International Women’s Day and in 2018 was included in Silicon Republic’s ‘Women Invent 100’ list, in recognition for her work as co-founder of Women on Walls.

Outside Accenture, she has supported a number of educational and skills initiatives to broker the digital skills divide as Chair of the Young Women in IT Advisory Council at An Cosán and as a member of the Advisory Council of The Digital Youth Council.

A former member of the Boards of CRASH Ensemble and Dublin Theatre Festival she holds an MBA from the Michael Smurfit School of Business at UCD and a Degree in Marketing from DIT.

Appointed 17/12/2021

He also lectured regularly on each of these subjects. In the course of this career he represented many media outlets, Dublin theatres, advertising businesses and impresarios. He is an accredited mediator. Kevin founded O’Shea Barry Solicitors in 2007 a company that has gone from strength to strength, now employing over 20 people. He retired in January 2021 to take up an undergraduate degree in Philosophy at TCD.

Previously he was on the board of the Irish Writers Centre and he was the first person to be awarded Honorary Life Membership of that organisation.

He has been a lifelong advocate of the Arts with a passion for theatre, music and literature. His pastimes include being a first bass with the Culwick Choral Society, he plays golf, really badly by his own admission, and is a keen amateur photographer.

Kevin holds an honours degree in Law from Trinity College.

Appointed 17/12/21

He was appointed principal percussionist to the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra at the age of 18, the orchestra’s youngest ever section leader and a position he held for 17 years.

His innovative approach to music brought him extensive work with Irish and International composers and producers. The country's "first call" studio percussionist, Noel’s concert and recording credits feature U2,The Corrs, Rita Connolly, Mike Oldfield, Eleanor McEvoy, The Chieftains, Van Morrison, Anuna, David Foster, Elmer Bernstein, Elvis Costello, Liam O’Flynn, Secret Garden, Shaun Davey, Barry Manilow, Neil Martin, Dave Stewart, Brian Eno, Crowded House, Moya Brennan, Alyth McCormack, Imelda May and Glen Hansard.

He has contributed to numerous film scores and many Grammy nominated and Grammy awarded albums and his early studio work brought him to the attention of Moving Hearts, the ground breaking Celtic Rock band who defined the genre with their album ‘The Storm’. This led to much involvement with traditional musicians in Ireland and abroad which continues to this day. He was an original member and Musical Director of the Riverdance Orchestra and premiered the show in the major cities of the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia. Noel recorded on the original Grammy winning album and featured on 3 of the Riverdance Videos/DVDsProduction and directorial credits include the opening ceremony of Ireland’s European Presidency, the closing concert of Cork European City of Culture, a Percussion Spectacular at the National Concert Hall, The Gathering “Notre Dame A Welcome Home” and Ceiliúradh in the Albert Hall, the concert celebrating President Michael D Higgins’ visit to the UK.

Since 2007 Noel has managed all Moving Hearts affairs and also manages and contracts the Wexford Festival Opera Orchestra.

Noel is devoted to percussion performance and education in Ireland and lectures at The Conservatoire of Music and Drama at Technical University Dublin Grangegorman.

Appointed 26/05/2023

He has made many recordings as a soloist and collaborator with such musicians as Dónal Lunny, Micheál Ó Suilleabháin, Jolyon Jackson, and Micheál Ó Domhnaill. He has also worked with contemporary musicians including Van Morrison and composer John Cage.

He was a founding member of the Bothy Band and played with Ceoltóiri Laighean as well as, more recently, LAPD and Ushers Island. His career in broadcasting spanned a thirty-year period across a range of disciplines, from presenting 'The Long Note' on radio to 'The Pure Drop' on television. He has held a number of senior positions within RTÉ, including Head of Radio Sport, Editor of Features and Documentaries, and Executive Producer, Weekend Programming.

Glackin was a member of The Arts Council from 2016-2021. He continues to perform, and teaches annually at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Clare.

Appointed 24/02/2023