David Leahy

Chief Executive – Galway & Roscommon Education & Training Board (GRETB)

Company profile

GRETB is committed to promoting and supporting creative and cultural programmes and opportunities for our students and learners through arts in education programmes in our primary and post primary colleges, in the school of music located in Coláiste na Coiribe in Galway city, in our extensive Further Education and Training programmes, which include PLC courses in art, music, drama, graphic design, games development, animation, fashion design, furniture design and other innovative programmes responding to local needs. We also offer a range of media programmes including film and documentary, music performance, studio and live sound production and a Media based traineeship in partnership with Screen Training Ireland.

GRETB is also the lead partner in three neighbouring Music Education Partnership areas: Galway city, Galway County and Roscommon. Music Generation GRETB engaged with over 9000 young people in 2021, delivering music programmes in both schools and youth/community spaces across a range of instruments and music genres

In our post primary schools and Youtreach centres, we encourage and support creative programmes. Many of our schools and centres are participating in the Creative Schools scheme, the Writers in Residence project in partnership with Poetry Ireland and the three local authority Arts Offices in Galway and Roscommon and the Artists in Schools Scheme with the local authorities.

In 2021, GRETB was selected in the second round of the pilot Local Creative Youth Partnerships, one of six nationally supported under the Creative Ireland Programme. The LCYP aims to provide more opportunities for children and young people (aged 0-24 years) to engage with creative activities in out-of-school settings with a particular focus on those that are most marginalised or that experience disadvantage. The voice of children and young people is central to the designing, implementation, and evaluation of the LCYP plan. The GRETB LYCP has carried out a detailed consultation process with children and young people in  Galway and Roscommon, is building partnerships with key stakeholders and identifying gaps in provision of creative opportunities for children and young people (0-24 years).

Personal/Professional Profile

David is the Chief Executive of Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) since its establishment in 2013.  He previously held the positions of Chief Executive Officer, North Tipperary VEC and Principal of Portumna Community School, prior to this teacher of Religion, History, English, C.S.P.E., S.P.H.E and as a Guidance Counsellors.  He holds a B.D. from Maynooth, a H.Dip.Ed.Studies (School Development Planning) from N.U.I. Galway, a H.Dip.Ed and an M.Ed (Guidance and Counselling) from Trinity College.  He is married to Kathy who teaches music and religion and they have three children.

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