Our Board

An educator with a Masters from UCD, Majella specialises in conceptualising creative, inclusive, integrated initiatives that ensure childhood and children are ‘front and centre’. As Founder of the multi-award winning museum, she recognises how fortunate she has been in bringing together a collective of extraordinarily special people, working together in a voluntary capacity on an historic first for Ireland – a museum ensuring that all children past to present are seen and heard – and the concept of childhood respected. MoCI- ensuring that all the children of the nation are cherished – equally.

Wearing the ‘little yellow dress,’ and holding tight to ‘Ted,’ the photo illustrates an aspect of Irish social history that continued throughout the 50s and 60s in Ireland: ‘The Parcel from America’. The dress, worn for parties by numerous children down through the years, was included in a parcel sent to my family, and chosen especially for me by my paternal Aunt Norah Griffin, San Francisco, for my 3rd birthday.

Mary has had a career in education, business and technology, in Ireland and across Europe, with education and personal development being the common threads. Developing curricula, assessments and methodologies, and accommodating children and adults of all abilities, leading everyone to reach their potential has been the focus of her working life. She chairs a European standards committee and sits on 2 not-for-profit boards in the IT sector.

I grew up in Dublin in a traditional Irish family, with parents from Donegal and Kerry. My brothers and sister spent many holidays in the countryside with cousins on the farms, benefiting from the best of an urban and rural upbringing. In Dublin we played on the street we lived on and had wonderful summer evenings playing rounders in the rugby field behind our house. I loved school, but in latter years have felt that the system at the time was stifling and rewarded compliance over creativity.

My bike was my favourite childhood toy.  I was also an avid reader as a child, I think I tracked down every Billy Bunter book ever written. After that I was a big Biggles fan…

Claire has worked in governance and compliance roles for the past number of years, previously at the Chester Beatty and now at UCD. She holds a BA in English and Scandinavian Language and Literature from the University of Alberta and an MA in Medieval Icelandic Studies from the University of Iceland. Having grown up on the west coast of British Columbia, Claire has a great love of the outdoors and enjoys running, skiing and forest walks.

This is a picture of me in Lake Osoyoos with my father. We went on holiday here every summer and some of my happiest childhood memories are of my time here with my parents and two sisters. What makes these memories so special now is that we all still go to the same place every summer, now with the next generation in tow, and I get to live them all over again with my own children.

Sorcha is a Senior Project Manager in the IT sector. She joined the museum as Lead of the Strategy Team in September, 2021. Through her background in project management, Sorcha looks to turn chaos into productivity. She holds a degree in Computer Science and a Master’s in Business and Entrepreneurship.

One of our favourite games as children growing up in Arklow was to play night chase! Sent out to play after school, we would not be called back in until after dark. One of my fondest memories is of getting all dressed up to be a bridesmaid at my aunts wedding.   Here I am looking pleased as punch and posing with my wonderful father.

A marketing professional with 23 years’ experience of working in professional services and tourism, Fiona began her career via an Ibec grad programme with Tourism Ireland in Oslo. Fiona has since worked as a Global Marketing, Communications and Brand Director with Walkers, as Director of Marketing at Matheson and as a Senior Clients and Markets Manager with Deloitte Ireland. She also held the roles of Festivals and Cultural Events Officer and South East Regional Tourism Officer with Fáilte Ireland. Fiona holds a Masters in Marketing and Business French from TU Dublin and a BA international from UCD with 1 year completed in Université Bordeaux III. Fiona also holds Diplomas from UCD in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Leadership & Management, and in Digital Marketing as well as a Certificate in ESG Fundamentals for Board Directors from the Institute of Directors, of which she is also a member. During her time in Walkers, Fiona supported CSR projects such as the National Concert Hall’s Primary Ensemble Music Programme which saw 720 students from 8 schools take part from across Ireland. She also sat on the steering committee for Walkers Photographer in Residence Programme with Business to Arts and CBS Westland Row.

The second youngest of 6 children, here I am in 1978 (with a giant fringe), photographed with my new baby brother and older siblings at home in our house in county Limerick. As children we spent most of our time playing outside in the garden or in the fields behind my parents’ house. We created a wonderful treehouse that was at the end of the garden and set up a club with our good friends next door, Declan, Emma and Sinead De Freitas. I imagined that our special tree was just like the tree in my favourite book by Enid Blyton, The Faraway Tree, and to me it was magical.

Mark is a seasoned fundraiser with over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, having held a variety of roles across different children’s charities. With extensive experience in corporate fundraising, events, campaigns, and philanthropy, Mark specialises in crafting and executing impactful fundraising strategies that drive revenue growth and enhance donor engagement. He is also an experienced charity board director and currently serves as the Chairperson of the Charities Institute Ireland Corporate Forum. 

He holds a degree in Business Management from Technological University Dublin, along with a Diploma in Fundraising Management from the Charities Institute Ireland. Additionally, Mark has a Diploma in PR, Internal Communications, and CSR from the Fitzwilliam Institute and is currently completing his postgraduate studies in Charity, Fundraising and Sponsorship Event Management.

Growing up in Malahide, rugby was the heart of my childhood. I started playing at five years old, with my dad as my coach. Weekends and evenings were filled with training sessions and matches, where I learned teamwork, discipline, and resilience. We travelled all over Ireland for games, and each trip was an adventure. The bus rides and time spent with teammates felt like one big family. Malahide Rugby Club was more than just a club—it was home. It shaped my childhood and teen years, providing a community and memories I’ll cherish forever.

Lorraine McEvoy completed her PhD in History at Trinity College Dublin where her research was funded by Trinity’s Ussher Fellowship and the Irish Research Council. She also holds a BA in History and English Literature and an MPhil in International History from Trinity. Her PhD research examined recuperative holidays for children in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War and is based on archival research in Britain, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Eemer is Director of the team evaluating Dublin City University’s Futures initiative, and an independent research consultant. Her interests include programme evaluation, early school leaving, and structural aspects of education systems (she insists the latter is much more interesting than it sounds!). She has worked in educational research for over 25 years, and has contributed to significant policy changes affecting children’s lives in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Malta. 

Scamp arrived in our house shortly before I was born and lived long enough to see me off to college.  Free spirit, escape artist, brilliant footballer, hearing so sharp she could hear a sweet being unwrapped in the next county, robber of meat from the local shop. Infamously escaped our locked house to have a wander round the altar during mass. And of course, me, the mortified youngest, was sent up to catch her. Forgiven, but not forgotten.

Gráinne received her MSc in Child Rights from Queen’s University. Previous to this she studied Ancient History and Archaeology at Trinity College Dublin, where she wrote her dissertation on Children’s Agency in the Ancient World. She also interned with the Open University and helped on projects relating to digital marketing, fun, and learning. She is passionate about childhood participatory rights and ensuring that the voices of children from both the past and present are heard and acknowledged. Her great loves in life are her two nieces who inspired her love and passion for child rights. 

Growing up in the early naughties in Ireland, listening to Joe Duffy’s Liveline on the drive home from school was a sacred tradition. I, somehow, got it into my head that Joe Duffy was my Dad, a misconception that followed me for many years. It was the only answer for why he was not there, picking my brothers and myself up from school. He must be off fielding calls from the disgruntled members of the Irish public. Imagine my disappointment when I found out I was not, in fact, heir to a radio dynasty! 

Hadjer is a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Evaluation, Quality and Inspection in the Education department of Dublin City University. She is originally from Algeria, and she completed her PhD in Applied Linguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2022. Hadjer’s research interests involve a range of topics related to language, communication, and education. Her research interests fall within the various areas of sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, online communication, intercultural communication, language teaching and learning, and social justice in educational settings, particularly in higher education.

“As a child, I liked looking at the starry night sky because it was always there, no matter where I was. Now, as an adult, looking at the night feels like meeting an old friend—familiar, comforting, and a link to times when dreams had no limits.”

Emily, Honorary Member, Museum of Childhood Ireland. Former Museum of Childhood Ireland board Chairperson, was Ireland’s first Ombudsman for Children, appointed in 2003 by the President. She served her five-year term as Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and is now Commissioner of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. Emily is also Adjunct Professor in the School of Law, University College Cork. She has worked with colleagues across the Council of Europe as Chair of the European Network of Ombudsman for Children and latterly as Chair of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions.

Dr Marnie Hay. Honorary Member, Museum of Childhood Ireland. Former Museum of Childhood Ireland board History Lead. Dr Marnie Hay, DCU, specialises in modern Irish history, with particular emphasis on the histories of the Irish cultural revival, the Irish revolution, and youth. Her present research examines Irish nationalist youth culture in the early twentieth century.