Published
The Teaching Council is pleased to announce the election of Claire Ní Mharcaigh as Chairperson by the members of the Council; Mary Curley who was elected as Deputy Chairperson in 2024 continues in her role until 2028.
Claire is a post‑primary teacher of Gaeilge and Geography at Firhouse Community College, Dublin 24. She brings extensive experience in teaching, corporate governance and regulation, having served as a member of the Teaching Council for 8 years across three separate terms. Most recently, Claire served as Chairperson of the Education Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee, participating in the Council’s statutory function in promoting and regulating professional standards in teaching.
Through her work on the Council, Claire has been closely involved in policy development and review, and decision‑making across key areas of the Council’s regulatory work including programme accreditation and the review of Droichead.
Commenting on her election, Claire Ní Mharcaigh said:
“I am honoured to be elected as Chairperson of the Teaching Council. I would like to thank the outgoing Chairperson, Eamon Dennehy, for his leadership, commitment and service to the Council during his tenure.
Teaching plays a central role in society, and the Teaching Council has an important responsibility to protect the public interest by promoting and regulating high professional standards. I look forward to working with Council members, the Acting Director and staff to ensure that the Council continues to carry out its statutory role in a fair, balanced and effective manner.”
Claire also thanked outgoing members of the Teaching Council for their contribution and service and welcomed newly appointed members as they take up their roles. She noted the importance of the collective expertise and perspectives of Council members in supporting the Council’s work in promoting and regulating professional standards in the public interest.
Mary Curley, who continues as Deputy Chairperson, brings 35 years’ experience as a primary teacher and teaching principal in Co. Clare. A member of the Council since 2020, she has served on the Investigating Committee, the Registration Committee and the Registration Review Group.
The Teaching Council also acknowledges the ongoing leadership of Phil Fox, who is serving as Acting Director, and thanks her and all Council staff for their continued professionalism and commitment to the work of the Council.
The Teaching Council extends its best wishes to Claire Ní Mharcaigh, Mary Curley and all Council members as they continue their important work to promote and regulate professional standards in teaching.
Notes
The Teaching Council is the regulator of the teaching profession in Ireland. The Teaching Council’s role is to protect the public by promoting and regulating professional standards in teaching. This is carried out through the statutory registration of teachers, ensuring a highly qualified teaching profession, whose members meet and uphold high standards of professional competence and conduct.
The Teaching Council has 37 members including 22 members of the profession (primary and post-primary), and others including nominees of the Higher Education Institutions, teacher unions, school management, National Parents Council, IBEC and ICTU, as well as Ministerial appointees. The current membership of the Council (including new appointees) can be viewed on our website.
Council Members newly appointed on 4 April 2026
Prof Catherine Furlong – Nominee – Dublin City University
Clodagh Kelly – Nominee – ETBI – Post Primary
Edel Polly – Nominee – INTO
Dr Fiona Crowe – Nominee – Atlantic Technological University
Hugh Murphy – Nominee – TUI
Maeve McCarthy – Nominee – Educate Together
Dr Mary Kelly – Nominee – Hibernia College
Pádraig Curley – Nominee – ASTI
Rene O’Malley – Nominee – National Parents’ Council – Post Primary
Prof Tony Hall – Nominee – University of Galway
Members of the Council renominated by their respective bodies and reappointed on 4 April 2026
Áine Lynch – Nominee – National Parents’ Council – Primary
Anne Loughnane – Nominee – ASTI
Bryan O’ Reilly – Nominee – CPSMA
David O’ Sullivan – Nominee – INTO
Fergal McCarthy – Nominee – ACCS – Post Primary
Jean Beswick Duignan – Nominee – TUI