Gráinne Cleary, Assistant General Secretary/Director of Operations and Finance
Gráinne, a native of Dublin, has worked with the INTO for over twenty years in the Membership, Finance and ICT Section. She was the INTO data protection officer from 2018 to 2021.
Following her appointment to assistant general secretary/director of operations and finance, Gráinne has responsibility for implementing an organisational strategy for operations and finance in the INTO, managing the delivery of corporate services, human resources and data governance.
Gráinne, a graduate of DCU, is a Fellow of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants. She holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management and was awarded a Certificate in Data Protection Practice from the Law Society of Ireland in 2018. Gráinne completed her Higher Diploma in Data Analytics in NCI in 2020.
Maria McHenry, Assistant General Secretary/Director of Legal, Industrial Relations and Equality
Maria is responsible for the Legal, Industrial Relations and Equality Section. Maria advises on various matters, including parental complaints, child protection, staff relations, grievance procedures, bullying/harassment, employment equality, disciplinary procedures, professional regulation, and data protection. To advocate on behalf of members, Maria provides representation in a wide range of fora, from boards of management to the superior courts.
Maria is a barrister, having been called to the Irish Bar, and holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (University College Dublin). She also has a Diploma in Education Law (Law Society of Ireland), a Diploma in Professional Regulation Law (UCD) and a Professional Certificate in Ombudsman and Complaints Handling Practice (Queen Margaret University).
David Geary, Assistant General Secretary/Director of Communications
David has responsibility for the overall communications strategy for the organisation, North and South and works closely with the General Secretary and Northern Secretary. Currently serving as President of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland, David has held senior positions in a number of high-profile organisations including European Movement UK, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and the UK’s largest trade association, the Federation of Small Businesses.
David graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from NUI Galway in 2007. Subsequently, undertaking postgraduate study David graduated with a law degree (LLB, 2010) and a Master’s in International Public Policy and Diplomacy (MBS, 2011) from University College Cork.
Máirín Ní Chéileachair, Assistant General Secretary/Director of Education, Research and Learning
Máirín Chéileachair has been appointed as Assistant General Secretary for Education Research and Learning.
Is iar-phríomhoide í Máirín go bhfuil an cuid is mó dá saol mar mhúinteoir caite aici in earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta. Chaith sí beagnach fiche bliain mar phríomhoide i nGaelscoil Uí Fhiaich, Maigh Nuad, maraon le tréimhsí i nGaelscoileanna i mBaile Átha Cliath agus in Eochaill, Co. Chorcaí.
Between 2015 and 2021 Máirín spent time on secondment, both as National Co-ordinator of the National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT) and as Director of Dublin West Education Centre (DWEC). She has designed and delivered CPD for the Education Centre network, with which she has had a career-long association.
Her areas of interest include Leadership Development, Teacher Induction, Gaelscolaíocht, Dhá-Theangachas agus múineadh na Gaeilge. She has also lectured extensively in Initial Teacher Education and has been a keynote speaker at Educational Conferences in Ireland and in Europe. Máirín has served on many boards and committees including the Management Committee of Dublin West Education Centre, Bord Stiúrtha Ghaeloideachas agus Bord Stiúrtha an Fhoras Patrúnachta. She has been Chairperson of Boards of Management at both primary and post-primary level. She has a First-Class M. Ed. (School Leadership) from Maynooth University as well as qualifications in Special Education, Management and the Law. Máirín has been a member of both Tallaght and West Liffey branches and has served as both a branch and district chair.
David O’Sullivan, Assistant General Secretary
A native of Birr, Co Offaly, David currently heads the Conditions of Employment Section in Head Office. Since his appointment to Head Office in 2013, he served as an Official in the Conditions of Employment section and as Assistant General Secretary in the Legal Industrial and Leadership Section.
He has previously been involved in the structures of the INTO at branch, district and national level. He has served as District 9 secretary, organiser in Dublin West branch and as a representative on the Equality Committee for District 9.
David taught in Scoil na Mainistreach, Celbridge, Co. Kildare for 12 years. He was a special duties post holder and served as teachers’ representative on the board of management.
David’s qualifications include a B.Ed (UL, 1999), Graduate Diploma in Primary School Language Teaching – German (ITB, 2004), M.A. (ITB, 2007), Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Leadership (NUIM, 2010), Advanced Diploma in Applied Employment Law (Kings Inns, 2017) and an Advanced Diploma in Law and Education (Kings Inns, 2018).
Sheila Murphy, Acting Assistant General Secretary
Sheila is Acting Assistant General Secretary in the Legal, Industrial Relations and Equality Section. Sheila holds a B.Ed from St Patrick’s College (Drumcondra), a graduate diploma in Special Educational Needs (UCD), a Master of Education (UCD) and a graduate diploma in Education Law and Practice (Law Society of Ireland). In her role Sheila provides advice, assistance and representation to members across a range of fora including the Teaching Council, Tusla and the Workplace Relations Commission.
Originally from Dublin, Sheila spent 13 years teaching in St Maelruain’s Senior NS in Tallaght before joining INTO Head Office. During her time teaching, Sheila was also an activist with Tallaght branch and district 8 holding a range of roles including staff representative, district trainer and cathaoirleach of Tallaght branch.