Michael Cuddy is Professor of Economics (Emeritus) at National University of Ireland, Galway. He holds a B.Agr. Sc and M.Agr. Sc (Economics) from University College Dublin and a PhD in Economics from North Carolina State University. He is the founder and Director of GDSI, an international economics consulting company with its headquarters in Galway. He was a lecturer in Economics at NUI, Galway for 15 years, Head of Department for 25 years and Dean of the Commerce Faculty for three years. He has over 100 published works. Michael established a rural development research centre, CEDRES and a marine social and economic research centre, SEMRU at NUI, Galway and he has undertaken research for numerous national and international agencies, including Irish government departments, the EC and the UN. He has carried out research and consultancy work in Ireland, UK, US, Europe, Russia, Republics of the former Soviet Union, China, the ASEAN countries and North Korea.

Peter Allen qualified as a Solicitor 1980 and took over the family law firm in 1988. As well as chairing The Galway Music Residency, he is Chairman of The Connacht Tribune Limited, Western Community Broadcasting Limited (Galway Bay FM), Galway Artisans and Labourers Dwellings Company Limited and Vice Chairman of Galway Race Committee, Deputy Senior Steward INHS Committee. Peter is a Director of Kylemore Trust Limited, Kylemore Abbey and Gardens Limited, Galway Chamber and Connemara Golf Club Limited. With interests including horse racing, golf, rugby, food and wine, Peter is a member of The Turf Club, Galway Golf Club, Connemara Golf Club and Galwegians RFC.

Dr. Chris Coughlan is a member of the senior management team at Hewlett-Packard Galway Ltd. He manages the worldwide Cloud Innovation and Data Analytics Centre for HP’s Software Professional Services. Previously he worked for Compaq, Digital, Nixdorf and Aer Lingus. He was educated at UCC, INSEAD and the University of Keele. He is a Chartered Physicist, a Member of the Institute of Physics, a Fellow of the Marketing Institute and Hon. Fellow of the Sales Institute. Chris is past President of Galway Chamber of Commerce and past Chairman of Galway Arts Centre. He is Chairman of Westbic, a director of the Galway Technology Centre, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Computer and Communications Museum of Ireland. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Cairns Business School at NUIG. He writes, lectures and broadcasts regularly on new media and future technologies. His most recent book was launched in 2013.

Sally Coyle has been a member of many artistic Boards locally in Galway and nationally. She was the first Chair of the Galway Arts Group, which had responsibility for running the Galway Arts Festival, Film Fleadh, Cúirt and other arts events in the City and for which she secured its first independent premises in Nun’s Island. She later joined the Board of Music for Galway, serving as Chair for 7 years. Upon retiring, she was invited to join the Board of Opera Theatre Company, serving two terms and later joined the Board of the Galway Arts Centre. She has been a member of the Board of The Galway Music Residency since 2003.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Jane O'Leary has been resident in Ireland since 1972. A member of Aosdána, she is a graduate of Vassar College and holds a PhD in music composition from Princeton University. She was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Music Degree by the National University of Ireland in 2007. Her music has featured at the ISCM World Music Days on several occasions and has been performed at numerous international festivals. As founder, artistic director and pianist of Concorde contemporary music ensemble, Jane O'Leary has promoted contemporary music worldwide for nearly 40 years. She has served as a member of the Arts Council and Udarás na hOllscoile Gaillimh, and also as a Director of the National Concert Hall. Jane is a former Chair of The Contemporary Music Centre and Music for Galway.

Sara is a BA Honours Graduate in Italian and philosophy and also holds an Honours Postgraduate Higher Diploma in Business Studies from NUI Galway. Upon graduating she worked in a number of marketing roles primarily within the Tourism Sector. Sara studied and played music when younger. She has been working as a Property Manager in James Stewart Ltd for the past thirteen years and is a Director of Stewart Developments Ltd.

Patrick Lonergan is Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies at NUI Galway, where he is also leading the introduction of a new BA in Music for September 2018. He has published extensively on Irish theatre and performance, and recent books include Theatre and Social Media, The Theatre and Films of Martin McDonagh, and Irish Theatre and Drama Since 1950.

Born in Dublin, Eddie Lloyd is a retired Assistant Bank Manager having worked with Bank of Ireland for 32 years. Educated at Presentation College, Bray and Blackrock College, Dublin. He attended Warrenstown Agricultural College before joining the Hibernian Bank. Having worked countrywide he and his family settled in Galway in 1976, retiring from banking in 1996.

He played rugby with a number of Clubs nationally and was an IRFU referee in Leinster and Connacht for many years. He was also an active member of Galway Lawn Tennis club for over twenty years. He has continued his love of fly fishing taking a boat out on the Lough Corrib and Lough Mask. He also has been and currently is Chairperson of the Lower Salthill Residents Association

He has a deep understanding of how music and harmony work. He greatly appreciate of having the joy of music in his life. His interest and passion for music has developed over the years, from early beginnings of playing the piano and singing at family and special gatherings. He has enjoyed his involvement in music whether it be organising and promoting visits to Galway by Cor Meibion Ardudwy, a Welsh Male Voice Choir from Harlech. He has been singing with the Galway Baroque Singers over the past 27 years or being front of choir as Choir Director at the Jesuits Church, Sea Road, Galway, a post he held for 25 year. More recently he has conducted the Barna Church Choir and is also a singing member of the Salthill Church and Galway Golf Club Choirs.

He was delighted to be asked to join The Music Residency Board and hopes to be a positive and constructive member to help serve it’s best interests.

General Manager

Eithne graduated from University College Dublin with degrees in Music and English and holds a Masters degree in Renaissance Music from Queen’s University Belfast and a post-graduate diploma in Arts Administration from UCD. She joins The Galway Music Residency from Music Generation where she worked as the Director of Operations and Communications for two years.

Previous posts in the arts include Executive Producer with Cork Midsummer Festival, General Manager with Opera 2005 (a company set up for Cork’s year as European Capital of Culture), the Contemporary Music Centre and the National Concert Hall.

A keen flautist, she also has extensive teaching experience having taught flute and recorder in Dublin and Kildare for many years and in 2015 completed the Diploma in Community and Group Music Teaching with the Royal Irish Academy of Music. In her free time Eithne enjoys playing in a variety of ensembles.

Operations Manager

Maeve, a Galway native, graduated from NUI Galway with a degree in English and Philosophy and a Masters in Ethics, Culture and Global Change. Following time in the publishing and language industries, she is now a dedicated Arts Professional.

Maeve is a keen classical musician, playing piano and double bass and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra (junior and senior) of Ireland for 6 seasons. Having been tutored by The Galway ConTempo Quartet at various points in her musical education, Maeve is delighted to now work with The Galway Music Residency.

Passionate about music education, outside her role at The Galway Music Residency, Maeve teaches Colourstrings Kindergarden, a Kodaly-based music literacy programme and is training to teach the follow on instrumental programme for piano. She also works as a freelance Arts professional for Galway-based music education organisation, Adventures in Music and the new West of Ireland youth Orchestra Sym-phonic Waves. In her spare time, she volunteers with the Galway Jazz Festival.