Our Development Education Team
Maria Barry, Programme Coordinator for Development Education
Maria studied French & History in UCC and went on to be a secondary school teacher. Her favourite subject to teach was CSPE so after 2 years teaching, she decided to go back to college and completed a Masters in Development Studies before joining Trocaire as an Education Intern. Maria joined Trocaire in 2002.
In 2007, Maria was appointed to the new role of Programme Coordinator for Development Education. Based in Maynooth, her growing team includes staff in Belfast, Cork and Maynooth. Her work includes: coordinating the Pamoja Programme in conjunction with our partners in Kenya; creating and writing resources and curriculum development, and of course co-ordinating the Development Education Team.
Email: mbarry@trocaire.ie
John Smith, Education Officer (Cork Office)
John studied a degree in Economics and Computers in UCC and subsequently completed a diploma in Information Systems. He worked for 7 years in roles varying from Logistics to contract management. His interest in Development led him to do a one year diploma in Development Studies (part-time) before completing a full time Masters in Youth and Community Development, where his thesis focused on Citizenship. John joined Trocaire in 2004.
John writes resources and visits schools and sites that request Trócaire workshops on curriculum based global topics. He also coordinates the CSPE Conferences, works on the Pamoja programme and works with the web team on the education section of the Trócaire website.
Email: jsmith@trocaire.ie
Sheila Dillon, Education Officer (Cork Office)
Sheila is a Primary school teacher. She taught in St. Canice's Co ed N.S., Kilkenny for 3 years. She worked in Kenya for 2 years - teaching at Primary and then Secondary level. Upon return Sheila went to Kilkenny and taught for a further 3 years. She took a year off to study Development Studies at Kimmage Manor. Sheila also worked for Comlamh for 1 year and joined Trocaire in 1990 as Education Officer for Munster.
Based in the Cork Trócaire Office, Sheila is one of our education officers. Sheila’s main focus is on the primary and pre-school curriculum. She creates and writes resources for these both at an informal and a formal level. Sheila also works with the team on the CSPE conferences and the Pamoja programme. She actively coordinates the pre-school conferences. Sheila also provides workshops in schools and sites in the southern region.
Email: sdillon@trocaire.ie
Rosie Murray, Education Officer (Northern Ireland Office)
After completion of her Geography Degree at the University of Ulster and subsequent Post grad in Tourism Management Rosie worked for 6 years as an Education and Marketing Officer for Laganside Development Corporation. She then returned to University to complete a Geography PGCE in Secondary teaching and subsequently was employed as Education Officer for the Environment and Heritage Service before joining Trocaire in 2002.
Based in Trócaire’s Belfast Office, Rosie is the Northern Ireland education officer. Rosie works within the formal and informal education sectors in the North to promote Trócaire’s development education programme. She writes and adapts resources specifically for the NI curriculum; coordinates Pamoja in the North; and visits schools and colleges to deliver curriculum based talks and workshops.
Email: rmurray@trocaire.ie
Trish Groves, Education Information Officer (Maynooth Office)
Trish studied social housing and estate management at the University of the West of England (Bristol) and spent 8 years working in the social housing sector in the UK and Ireland. Trish joined Trócaire in 1996, and participated in Trócaire's preparatory work for Habitat II, focusing on land issues in the Philippines. From 2001 to 2006, Trish co-ordinated Trócaire's Lenten Campaign in schools and parishes.
Trish joined Trócaire's Development Education team in 2007, in the new part-time role of Information Officer. Trish administers the Development Education Grants Scheme; is the link person for Trócaire's Development Education publications; updates the education pages of the Trócaire website; and supports the education team in other initiatives, including the Pamoja project, overseas visits, Young Social Innovators, exhibitions and resource fairs.
Email: tgroves@trocaire.ie
Aoife Rush , Education Officer (Maynooth Office)
Aoife studied business with French and German in DCU and went on to complete a higher diploma in education in UCC. Aoife worked as a secondary school teacher for three years. While teaching, Aoife also completed a Masters in Education (part-time). Aoife’s interest in development issues began when she worked as a volunteer teacher in Ethiopia during her summer holidays. Aoife joined Trócaire in 2007.
As Education Officer, Aoife visits schools to carry out workshops on a variety of global issues. She also helps co-ordinate the Pamoja projects in the Leinster region and creates and writes resources.
Trócaire Education Offices
Main Office
Maynooth,
Co. Kidare
Ireland
Tel: +353 01 6293333
Northern Ireland Office
50 King St.,
Belfast BTI 6AD
Tel: +44 048 90 808030
Cork Office
9 Cook St.,
Cork
Tel: (021) 427 5622
