National Office Staff

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Meet the Team

Dr Patrick Burke

Chief Executive Officer

Patrick is CEO of Youth Work Ireland and he provides strategic leadership to the federation, overseeing its governance, organisational development, and national operations. Patrick works closely with member organisations, the Board of Directors, and key stakeholders to strengthen the impact of youth work and advocate for policies that improve outcomes for young people and communities across Ireland.

Paul Gralton

Assistant CEO & Head of Compliance

Paul has over 35 years of experience in youth and community work and is deeply committed to supporting and strengthening opportunities for young people and communities. His role includes developing and enhancing organisational structures that promote effective youth work practice, while also overseeing compliance and governance processes across the federation to ensure high standards of accountability and quality.

Mary Horgan

Head of Finance

Mary`is a member of the Senior Management Team at National Office and manages the national finances of Youth Work Ireland which includes the processing of grants from Government Departments, National and European Agencies, Trusts and Corporates etc.

Gina Halpin

Head of Information & Inclusion

Gina is a member of the Senior Management Team at National Office and leads the organisation’s equality and inclusion agenda. She is responsible for developing and coordinating information, support, and advocacy strategies that enable members to deliver inclusive youth work programmes and initiatives.

Michael McLoughlin

Head of Advocacy and Communications

Michael is a member of the Senior Management Team at National Office and is responsible for youth advocacy, communications, policy submissions, media relations and campaigns. Michael is a former board member with the Children’s Rights Alliance, Chairperson of Leargas and a member of the European Economic and Social Committee.

Geraldine Moore

Head of Voluntary Clubs & National Programmes

Geraldine is a member of the Senior Management Team at National Office and is responsible for supporting and developing Youth Work Ireland’s voluntary clubs and programmes. She coordinates the Youth Wave and Nollaig programmes, helping to strengthen youth participation and volunteer-led youth work across the federation.

Matthew Seebach

Head of Youth Work Practice & Strategy

Matthew is a member of the Senior Management Team at National Office, with responsibility for youth work practice development and organisational strategy. He works to strengthen quality practice across the federation while supporting the development of strategic initiatives that advance Youth Work Ireland’s mission and impact.

Niamh Codd

IT & Compliance Manager

Niamh is Compliance Administrator with National Office and provides support to the ACEO, administering Data Protection, Garda Vetting and Safeguarding Training System. She helps set up and maintain reporting systems, produce reports, follow up with members on issues and support verification systems and visits.

Eric Collins

Finance Administrator

Eric is a member of the Finance Team at National Office and provides financial and administrative support to the Head of Finance. He also contributes to a number of internal National Office working groups, supporting organisational planning, coordination, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Maggie Cumiskey

Our Generator Youth Worker Louth

Maggie is the Our Generation Youth Worker for County Louth. Maggie delivers the programmes of Mind Matters, CHOICE, Stand UPP, and Rise Up. Find out more about the Our Generation Project and the programmes available here>>

Marie Danaher

Youth Work for All Coordinator

Marie supports the development of youth clubs and youth club volunteers by working with volunteers, youth club support staff, and youth workers who interact with clubs to develop resources and trainings.

Christina Fitzharris

Proud Spaces Coordinator

Christina is the Proud Spaces Coordinator, working to expand and embed the Proud Spaces model of LGBTQI+ youth work throughout the membership. She also develops training and support practitioners to strengthen inclusive and LGBTQI+ youth work.

Brenda Flynn

Our Generation Worker: Donegal

Brenda is the Our Generation Youth Worker for County Donegal. Brenda delivers the programmes of Mind Matters, CHOICE, Stand UPP, and Rise Up. Find out more about the Our Generation Project and the programmes here>>

Hannah Flynn

Our Generation Worker

Hannah is the Our Generation Youth Worker for County Donegal. Hannah delivers the programmes of Mind Matters, CHOICE, Stand UPP, and Rise Up. Find out more about the Our Generation Project and the programmes here>>

Edel Fortune

Senior Youth Workers (Justice)

Edel works with a multiagency team to develop and support best practice across all Youth Diversion Projects leading to improved outcomes for young people and families.

Faye Garner

Our Generation Worker: Donegal

Faye is the Our Generation Youth Worker for County Donegal. Faye delivers the programmes of Mind Matters, CHOICE, Stand UPP, and Rise Up. Find out more about the Our Generation Project and the programmes here>>

Shane Gately

Youth Development Officer: Arts and Creativity

Shane coordinates the development and delivery of arts and creative programmes across Youth Work Ireland, including the Irish Youth Music Awards. His role focuses on developing innovative arts-based initiatives that support members, strengthen youth work practice, and provide meaningful creative opportunities for young people.

Fernanda Gomes Batista

Our Generation Administrator

Fernanda provides efficient and reliable administrative support to the Our Generation team, which works across the counties of Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, and Louth. The Our Generation Project includes the programmes of Mind Matters, CHOICE, Stand UPP, and Rise Up. Find out more about the Our Generation Project and the programmes here>>

Jacinta Grimes

AMPLIFY Youth Worker

Jacinta is a member of the AMPLIFY team, providing youth services to marginalised young people (ages 14–24) across 11 council areas in Northern Ireland and the six border counties of Ireland.

Roisin Keenan

AMPLIFY Coordinator

Roisin is the coordinator for the AMPLIFY project, providing youth services to marginalised young people (ages 14–24) across 11 council areas in Northern Ireland and the six border counties of Ireland

Breege Kiernan

Young People's Events & Facilities Manager

Breege manages national youth events and oversees the day-to-day management of the Dominick Street premises. She also provides organisational support to the Board, Board subgroups, and federal networks, ensuring the effective coordination of meetings, events, and governance processes across the organisation

Stephen Martin

AMPLIFY Youth Worker

Stephen is a member of the AMPLIFY team, providing youth services to marginalised young people (ages 14–24) across 11 council areas in Northern Ireland and the six border counties of Ireland

Tracey McArdle

Our Generation Coordinator

Tracey is the Coordinator of the Our Generation (OG) team, working across the Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, and Louth. She delivers Facilitator Training in the OG programmes to those working with young people across these counties. The OG Project includes Mind Matters, CHOICE, Stand UPP, and Rise Up. Find out more about the Our Generation Project and the programmes here>>

Fintan McCoy

Our Generation Youth Worker - Cavan Monaghan

Fintan is the Our Generation Youth Worker for Counties Cavan and Monaghan. Fintan delivers the programmes of Mind Matters, CHOICE, Stand UPP, and Rise Up. Find out more about the Our Generation Project and the programmes here>>

Elaine McGoldrick

Our Generation Youth Worker - Sligo Leitrim

Elaine is the Our Generation Youth Worker for Counties Sligo and Leitrim. Elaine delivers the programmes of Mind Matters, CHOICE, Stand UPP, and Rise Up. Find out more about the Our Generation Project and the programmes here>>

Kevin McMahon

Participation Officer

Kevin is the Participation Officer and provide support to the DCED’s Participation Unit and provides onsite and offsite support to Regional Comhairle na nÓg, supporting the National Comhairle na nÓg Executive, assisting in the development of annual events, consultations and other participation initiatives.

Eppy Mutetwa

Communications & Advocacy Officer

Eppy is the Communications and Advocacy Officer at National Office and is responsible social media, website content, communications campaigns, and advocacy initiatives that promote the work and impact of Youth Work Ireland and its member organisations.

Jacqueline O'Rourke

Our Generation Youth Worker - Louth

Jacqueline is the Our Generation Youth Worker for County Louth. Jacqueline delivers the programmes of Mind Matters, CHOICE, Stand UPP, and Rise Up. Find out more about the Our Generation Project and the programmes here>>

Anna Perho

Participation Administrator

Anna provides technical support to the DCED Citizen Participation Unit and supports Comhairle na nÓg in the development of annual events, consultations and other participation initiatives.

Karen Power

AMPLIFY Youth Worker

Karen is a member of the AMPLIFY team, providing youth services to marginalised young people (ages 14–24) across 11 council areas in Northern Ireland and the six border counties of Ireland.

Neermala Ramphal

Housekeeper and Events Support

Neermala is the Housekeeper at 20 Lower Dominick Street and plays a key role in supporting events and training programmes, including venue preparation, catering coordination, and ensuring a welcoming environment for participants.

Denise Tuohy

National Coordinator for Shared Agenda For Peace (SAFP)

Denise is the national co-ordinator for the Shared Agenda for Peace (SAFP) project which is a cross-border youth work programme operating across disadvantaged and polarised communities in Northern Ireland and Ireland.