Regina Uí Chollatáin’s primary research interests are the Irish-language revival, Irish language journalism and media, and print culture; and she has been published extensively in academic and cultural journals in Ireland and internationally. An Claidheamh Soluis agus Fáinne an Lae 1899-1932 (2004) is her first book. Saothrú na Gaeilge scríofa i suímh uirbeacha na hÉireann 1700-1850 (co-edited Liam Mac Mathúna 2017) and Litríocht na Gaeilge ar fud an Domhain (co-edited 2015) are her two most recent books. She is the UCD Chair of Modern Irish and Literature and she was the Head of the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore from 2015 to 2021.

Regina founded the MA in Scríobh agus Cumarsáid na Gaeilge in University College Dublin (on which she has served as director from 2006 to now), and the de Bhaldraithe Centre for Irish Language Scholarship in the same university (on which she served as director from 2008-18). She is a member of the National Steering Committee for the Irish language Advanced Language Skills initiative (2013 onwards). She was awarded the Ireland Canada University Foundation Senior Visiting Professorship 2012-13 and was awarded the Nicholas O’Donnell Fellowship, Melbourne University, from Janurary to Febuary 2019.

She was the first chairperson of the all-island Language Development Forum (2014-17) and she was a member of the all-island Partnership Forum (2014-17). She is a member of the Royal Irish Academy committee for Irish Language Scholarship, Irish Literature and Celtic Culture (2015- present), a member of the Folklore of Ireland Council and the Academy Advisory Board of the National Museum of Literature of Ireland (MoLI).

Since 2008 she is a founding member of the Newspaper and Periodical History Forum of Ireland, on which she served as chairperson from 2016 to 2019. She was the first chairperson of the Undergraduate Awards of Ireland for the panel for Irish Language and Celtic Studies (2008-11), and she was a member of the TG4’s first state board (2007-12). She is a regular panellist on litriture and current affairs shows, and on documentaries that are broadcast on TG4, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, RTÉ and the BBC.

Maighréad was born and raised in north Belfast. She attended Ulster University, where she graduated with a degree in Irish. She spent several years working as an Irish-language development officer in Belfast before going on to earn a postgraduate certificate in Education from St Mary’s University College.

Maighréad was appointed as a teacher in the newly established Gaelscoil Éanna in the outskirts of Belfast in 2008. She went on to receive a qualification in Principal Leadership and in 2012, she was appointed as principal of the school, which continues to grow and develop. 

Maighréad is a member of Naomh Éanna CLG, and is currently the club’s Child Protection Officer. Maighréad has been a member of Sinn Féin for the past few years and has a huge interest in politics.

Maighréad has one son, and they are both interested in Irish-language and cultural affairs. Maighréad is active in Irish-language development work and in Irish medium education in Belfast city and the surrounding area.

Kevin grew up in An Spidéal in Conamara and he currently lives in Cois Fharraige. He graduated from National University of Ireland Galway with an honours degree in Science in 2008. After university he spent many years in business and enterprise. Kevin ran as a Sinn Féin candidate in the local elections in 2019 but was unsuccessful in winning a seat.

Kevin is currently employed as a co-ordinator of the Rural Social Scheme in the Conamara Gaeltacht and Mayo, which is run under the aegis of Údarás na Gaeltachta. The Rural Social Scheme gives small farmers and fishermen an opportunity to support community work taking place in their area.

Caoimhín was born, raised and still lives in West Belfast. He attended University of Ulster where he obtained an Honours Degree in Estate Management with Diploma in Industrial Studies. Especially since having left University in 1997 he has gained a wealth of experience and held a wide range of community roles in West Belfast and beyond in both the Irish and English medium community sectors.

Freda was born and reared outside of Athlone in Co. Westmeath. She has a BA in Modern Irish and Music from the University College Cork, a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Administration from the University of Ireland Galway, and an MA in Translation Studies from the Academy of Irish Language University Education, University of Ireland Galway. She spent a period of training with the European Commission in Brussels and she has also gained the Seal of Accreditation for Translators.

Freda started her career in Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge on Kildare Street, and she has been ploughing the furrow of Irish language and culture since then. She worked as an Irish language development officer in Roscommon County Council, she spent various periods working in An Taibhdhearc, the National Irish Language Theatre, as an administrator, as a manager and as an art director, and she was chief executive of Gnó Mhaigh Eo. Before the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic Freda was acting as an Irish language communications officer with Galway 2020, European Capital of Culture, and since then she has been working as a free lance translator.

Liadh Ní Riada is from the Múscraí Gaeltacht. She is a former member of the European Parliament for Sinn Féin in the period 2014-2019 representing the Southern Ireland constituency. Liadh was a coordinator of the Committee on Budgets, a member of the Committee on Fisheries and a member of the Committee on Culture and Minority Languages. She spent years working as a producer and director with RTÉ and TG4 and she was a member of the founding committee that established TG4. After she resigned as a language planning officer for the Múscraí Gaeltacht area, she was appointed manager and director of the Dr Ó Loinsigh cultural centre located in Baile Bhuirne. Liadh is married to Nicholás Ó Fuaráin and is mother to three daughters. She lives with her family in Baile Bhuirne.

A current member of the Seosamh Ó Brolcháin branch of Conradh na Gaeilge and  trustee of Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail Dominic is a former SDLP politician who represented the Newry and Armagh constituency in the NI Assembly from 2003 to 2016.  He was a member of a number of committees there including – Finance, Education, and Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Previously he taught Irish and English at secondary level and spent two years as an Irish Language Devlopment Officer with the Southern Education and Library Board in counties Armagh, Down, and Tyrone.

He has been involved with the Irish language for over fifty years as a founder of Tí Chulainn Cultural Activity Centre in Mullaghbawn, Coláite Bhlinne in Camlough, as education editor of the newspaper Lá,  and as an Irish language columnist for a number of local newspapers in the Newry area.

As a member of a teachers’ working group he published a series of Irish language textbooks for secondary schools as well as material for mature Irish language learners under the company Míle Fáilte.  He sat on the National Committees of An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta and Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge.  Dominic continues to teach Irish on-line to students in Ireland and overseas.

He was educated at Scoil Phóil, Bessbrook, Scoil na Mainistreach, Newry,  and at QUB and UU.

Mairéad is a solicitor and she is a partner in the Matheson LLP law company. She gained a bachelor’s degree in civil law and a master’s degree in commercial law in University College Dublin before she qualified as a solicitor in 2011

Mairéad is the representative for language communities outside of the Gaeltacht on the Advisory Committee for Irish Language services established in 2022. She gained a Higher Diploma in Lawyer Linguistics and Legal Translation in 2011 from King’s Inns. She has spent years as a tutor and examiner in the Law Society of Ireland’s Irish language courses. In 2014, she was appointed to the Advisory Committee on Irish Language Legal Terms as a representative of the Law Society of Ireland. She was one of the founding members of Borradh, a community for business leaders seeking to place Irish at the heart of their professional lives.

She is From An Cheathrú Rua in Conamara and lives in Dublin.

Gemma Ní Chionnaith is from the Conamara Gaeltacht. She attended Scoil Náisiúnta Sailearna in Indreabhán and Coláiste Chroí Mhuire in An Spidéal. She continued with her education through the medium of Irish when she undertook university study. Over a 10 year period Gemma studied various courses in Galway University and Limerick University, and se spent 6 of those years studying through the medium of Irish.

It was this strong academic background that shaped her career, working as an Irish language broadcaster for mor than 20 years. During this time, Gemma has presented a range of programmes for television and radio, including Rugbaí Beo and Seó Spóirt on TG4.

In recognition of the significant work she has carried out in the area of radio, she was awarded the Oireachtas na Gaeilge Radio Personality of the Year award for her work on Géill Slí on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Gemma is passionate about the growth and development of the Irish language, and she hopes to use her extensive experience and expertise in Irish language education and broadcasting to promote the mission of Foras na Gaeilge.

Ian was born and raised in Derry. He studied at St Columb’s College, where he learnt Irish, and he has an Honours Degree in history from Peterhouse, Cambridge University. Ian has a long history in the business sector, and he spent his business career in his family business, Doherty Meats, where he still works as a Non-Executive Director. He also has a wide experience working on various Boards of Directors, including Chairmanships with Northern Ireland Transport, with the Green Park Hospital Trust, with Derry City Football Club, and with the Derry Playhouse; as well as other Board roles with the Senate of Queen’s University Belfast, with United Dairy Farmers, with the Civil Service Commission for Northern Ireland, with the Lloyds/TSB Charitable Foundation Trust, and as a Governor of St Columb’s College Derry and Lumen Christi College Derry.