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Patrons & Committee
We would like to thank Minister Anne Rabbitte, Margo and Senator Frances Black for their involvement in the creation of MEAI and for their ongoing support over the last two years.
Patron - Minister Anne Rabbitte
Anne Rabbitte is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as a Minister of State since July 2020. She has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway East constituency since 2016. ... In May 2016, she was appointed to the Fianna Fáil Front Bench, as Spokesperson for Children and Youth Affairs.
Patron - Margo O' Donnell
Margo started performing country music at a young age in 1964 with a local showband, The Keynotes. She recorded her first single in 1968, "Bonny Irish Boy/Dear God", and followed this with a second single, "If I Could See the World Through the Eyes of a Child/Road By the River", released in 1969. In the next five decades, Margo sold over 1 million records and performed with Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton. She presented several TV shows for RTÉ in the 1970s and has collected a number of awards during her career.Her albums usually include covers of popular country music hits from the 1960s and 1970s. Her 2019 album "Old and New" contains original tribute songs to two of her greatest influences, Liz Anderson and Jean Shepard. She has recorded a number of songs written by Liz Anderson and also a number written by Dolly Parton and on her album Margo and Friends she duets with Parton on "God's Coloring Book".
Patron - Senator Frances Black
Senator Frances Black grew up on Charlemont Street in Dublin as the youngest of the late Patty and Kevin's five children. It was a very musical family, and she began singing with her older siblings, Shay, Michael, Mary and Martin, known as The Black Family, when she was 17. She became an award-winning Irish singer, and a pure vocal tone and an energetic stage presence made her one of Ireland’s most popular singers. She has released many award-winning albums and continues to tour and perform around the world.
In 2009, Frances founded a charitable organisation that is very close to her heart called The RISE Foundation, which is an organisation set up to support family members who have a loved one with an alcohol, drug or gambling problem. The RISE family programme helps to reduce anxiety, stress and confusion for the family members. It promotes healing by identifying how addictive behaviour can impact the family and what family members can do to take care of themselves. It is her work with RISE and her collaboration with other community and charitable organisations that inspired Frances to run for the Seanad, as she believes that there is a need to represent these services and be the voice of those who are vulnerable in society. She was delighted to be elected to the 25th Seanad Éireann in April 2016.
Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) awarded Frances the prestigious Social Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2010 and again in 2011. The RISE Foundation also won a Vodafone World of Difference award in 2010. She was internationally recognised in 2015 when she won the Emerald Spirit Award 2015 in New York. This unique award is for professionals active in the field of family recovery from addiction. As such, it honours an under‐recognised community of dedicated professional and advocates who work with family members, including children and adult children of alcoholics collaterally affected by the family disease of addiction.
On April 2016 Frances was elected to the Seanad having been nominated by the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland. Frances is the first independently elected woman to the Seanad.
Frances is married and has two grown-up children, Eoghan and Aoife Scott, both of whom are musicians.
In 2009, Frances founded a charitable organisation that is very close to her heart called The RISE Foundation, which is an organisation set up to support family members who have a loved one with an alcohol, drug or gambling problem. The RISE family programme helps to reduce anxiety, stress and confusion for the family members. It promotes healing by identifying how addictive behaviour can impact the family and what family members can do to take care of themselves. It is her work with RISE and her collaboration with other community and charitable organisations that inspired Frances to run for the Seanad, as she believes that there is a need to represent these services and be the voice of those who are vulnerable in society. She was delighted to be elected to the 25th Seanad Éireann in April 2016.
Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) awarded Frances the prestigious Social Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2010 and again in 2011. The RISE Foundation also won a Vodafone World of Difference award in 2010. She was internationally recognised in 2015 when she won the Emerald Spirit Award 2015 in New York. This unique award is for professionals active in the field of family recovery from addiction. As such, it honours an under‐recognised community of dedicated professional and advocates who work with family members, including children and adult children of alcoholics collaterally affected by the family disease of addiction.
On April 2016 Frances was elected to the Seanad having been nominated by the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland. Frances is the first independently elected woman to the Seanad.
Frances is married and has two grown-up children, Eoghan and Aoife Scott, both of whom are musicians.
Jackie Conboy
Co-Founder/Sound Engineer
Worked as a Dj, Musicians, Sound Engineer, Manager, Tour Manager, Lighting Tech, Promoter.
I started my recording career off in Roseland Studios, Moat, Co Westmeath. At that time we were using two-inch tape and mastering to DAT. Recording was very different to what it is today. South Of Heaven was my next project where we recorded and gigged around Ireland with some success on national radio thanks to Larry Gogan who always promoted Irish artists. I really do miss writing and recording. Touring was a passion for me so I ended up working with some great artists and bands. I toured with the following Foster & Allen, Ragús, The Dubliners, Brendan Shine, Bagatelle, De Dannan, Furry Village, Mike Denver. Worked with the Pogues, Wolftones, Aslan, Katy Durkin, Martin O Connor, Hothouse Flowers, Trad On The Prom, Brendan Boyer, The Revs, Martin Hayes, Classical Twist,
Big Generator was my next challenge where I was asked to come on board as a manager by my brother Barry who was the guitar player and co-founder of the band and spent 18 years touring Ireland, Holland, Germany, the UK and America.
I have always had a deep interest in the overall music industry and the workings of it and with my son being so interested in music I want him to be in a safe and secure in this sector if he wants to become a full-time professional musician.
What would I like MEAI to achieve?
I would like to see the Music & Entertainment Industry regulated and properly recognised, respected and supported by the government.
Worked as a Dj, Musicians, Sound Engineer, Manager, Tour Manager, Lighting Tech, Promoter.
I started my recording career off in Roseland Studios, Moat, Co Westmeath. At that time we were using two-inch tape and mastering to DAT. Recording was very different to what it is today. South Of Heaven was my next project where we recorded and gigged around Ireland with some success on national radio thanks to Larry Gogan who always promoted Irish artists. I really do miss writing and recording. Touring was a passion for me so I ended up working with some great artists and bands. I toured with the following Foster & Allen, Ragús, The Dubliners, Brendan Shine, Bagatelle, De Dannan, Furry Village, Mike Denver. Worked with the Pogues, Wolftones, Aslan, Katy Durkin, Martin O Connor, Hothouse Flowers, Trad On The Prom, Brendan Boyer, The Revs, Martin Hayes, Classical Twist,
Big Generator was my next challenge where I was asked to come on board as a manager by my brother Barry who was the guitar player and co-founder of the band and spent 18 years touring Ireland, Holland, Germany, the UK and America.
I have always had a deep interest in the overall music industry and the workings of it and with my son being so interested in music I want him to be in a safe and secure in this sector if he wants to become a full-time professional musician.
What would I like MEAI to achieve?
I would like to see the Music & Entertainment Industry regulated and properly recognised, respected and supported by the government.
Mark O Reilly
Co-Founder/Musician/Singer
Studied Media Production.
Started out working as a roadie/crew.
Was a Professional Dj in nightclubs and functions.
Played in a 2 piece band in bars and venues around the country.
Was involved in running a venue for a number of years.
Currently working full time in the music and entertainment industry and have been for the last 24 years, managing and playing in a band for the wedding venues and corporate sector.
I would like to see this industry regulated and recognised to ensure a bright future for generations to come.
Studied Media Production.
Started out working as a roadie/crew.
Was a Professional Dj in nightclubs and functions.
Played in a 2 piece band in bars and venues around the country.
Was involved in running a venue for a number of years.
Currently working full time in the music and entertainment industry and have been for the last 24 years, managing and playing in a band for the wedding venues and corporate sector.
I would like to see this industry regulated and recognised to ensure a bright future for generations to come.
John O Callaghan
John O’Callaghan is a practising barrister who worked previously as a full time professional
musician/singer under the stage name Big Johnny C.. From Macroom in County Cork where he still
resides, John mainly practices as a Barrister in the Superior Courts at the Four Courts in Dublin.
Although busy with his legal career, John continues to play music on a regular basis. Having played
with the greats of the showband era including Brendan O’Brien (Dixies and Stage 2), Declan Ryan
(Regal), Sean Dunphy (Hoedowners), Linda Martin and Art Supple, John subsequently fronted the
very popular Southern Playboys which became one of Ireland’s top function band for over 15 years
before coming off the road in 2013. Having qualified as a barrister in 2010, John has now stopped
playing music full time, however he continues to work in studios as both a keyboard player and lead
guitarist as well as a producer. John has also returned to the live music scene playing with a multiple
of bands all over Ireland and the UK standing in as a session musician and singer. Given his musical background, John has represented a number of artists involved in the entertainment industry in
complex legal matters.
musician/singer under the stage name Big Johnny C.. From Macroom in County Cork where he still
resides, John mainly practices as a Barrister in the Superior Courts at the Four Courts in Dublin.
Although busy with his legal career, John continues to play music on a regular basis. Having played
with the greats of the showband era including Brendan O’Brien (Dixies and Stage 2), Declan Ryan
(Regal), Sean Dunphy (Hoedowners), Linda Martin and Art Supple, John subsequently fronted the
very popular Southern Playboys which became one of Ireland’s top function band for over 15 years
before coming off the road in 2013. Having qualified as a barrister in 2010, John has now stopped
playing music full time, however he continues to work in studios as both a keyboard player and lead
guitarist as well as a producer. John has also returned to the live music scene playing with a multiple
of bands all over Ireland and the UK standing in as a session musician and singer. Given his musical background, John has represented a number of artists involved in the entertainment industry in
complex legal matters.
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is a fiddle player and sean-nós singer from the Gaeltacht of Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal. She is passionate about preserving the traditional music from her area. She is also a composer and has been commissioned to compose music for various projects over the years. She is a founding member of the renowned traditional music group, Altan. For over thirty years she has toured the World with Altan, travelling all over Ireland, the United Kingdom, Europe,Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the USA. She has played in venues as diverse as The Albert Hall,London,The Sydney Opera House and The Hollywood Bowl. Mairéad has made one solo album in 2009 called ‘Imeall’, and is also a member of other ensembles like ; String Sisters , comprising of female fiddle players from all over the world, SíFiddlers a Donegal based group of female fiddlers focusing on the rich Donegal tradition, her family band ,Na Mooneys and T with the Maggies along with Moya Brennan, Maighread and Triona Ní Dhomhnaill. Mairéad was awarded Donegal Person of the Year in 2009 by the Donegal Association in Dublin for her work in promoting the County and it’s rich culture worldwide and in 2017 was awarded TG4 Musician of the Year.
Emilie Conway
Emilie Conway is an award winning jazz singer, composer and lyricist . Her music is informed and complemented by her love of literature, poetry, sound and silence. She blends her own compositions, spoken word / poetry, with improvised or composed music and her interpretation of familiar and less familiar jazz standards.
Emilie’s current projects centre around her quest to continuously develop as a vocal jazz artist through deepening her collaborative relationship with her long-standing musicians, Johnny Taylor, Dominic Mullan and Barry Donohue through careful choice of creatively challenging and innovative projects in inspiring contexts and settings.
Jazz and Disability
SEE THROUGH New Work Award from the Arts Council’s Arts and Disability Connect Scheme. In partnership with the Improvised Music Company (IMC) and with the support of Darn Skippy Productions and Dublin City Council Culture Company, Emilie will develop, compose, write and perform a new jazz theatre performance based on her experiences as an artist with a visual impairment.
VOICES An event created by Emilie for Dublin City Council’s Social Inclusion week that gives people who have a disability a supportive platform to give voice to their experiences through music, poetry, spoken word and art in an online event. This event was met with such enthusiasm that Emilie has agreed to run it seasonally.
Emilie’s current projects centre around her quest to continuously develop as a vocal jazz artist through deepening her collaborative relationship with her long-standing musicians, Johnny Taylor, Dominic Mullan and Barry Donohue through careful choice of creatively challenging and innovative projects in inspiring contexts and settings.
Jazz and Disability
SEE THROUGH New Work Award from the Arts Council’s Arts and Disability Connect Scheme. In partnership with the Improvised Music Company (IMC) and with the support of Darn Skippy Productions and Dublin City Council Culture Company, Emilie will develop, compose, write and perform a new jazz theatre performance based on her experiences as an artist with a visual impairment.
VOICES An event created by Emilie for Dublin City Council’s Social Inclusion week that gives people who have a disability a supportive platform to give voice to their experiences through music, poetry, spoken word and art in an online event. This event was met with such enthusiasm that Emilie has agreed to run it seasonally.
Louise Clarke
Louise has worked in radio for over fourteen years or so, starting her radio journey with Flirt FM, Galway’s alternative student station where she worked as Production Manager. This was one of only two full time paid positions at the student radio station. Louise was twenty years of age and fresh out of college when she landed the role.
While continuing to work at Flirt FM, she then scooped up a weekend job at iRadio presenting iTest, which later became First Play. She also added iWeekend, a Saturday afternoon show to her radio suitcase, spending her weekends blissfully playing music and talking on the airwaves to the most fantastic listeners.
After spending 8 years presenting at the weekends and being iRadios main cover presenter, In January 2019 Louise landed her dream job with iRadio, taking over their talk show, “The Hub” it broadcasted Sunday – Thursday evenings 9pm – Midnight.
After two successful years broadcasting at that time slot, the CEO Mark Cunning decided the show needed to be heard at an earlier time and offered Louise the prime time slot of 6pm – 9pm – Monday to Friday.
This is the first time since the station's launch in 2008, where a talk show of this nature has been placed at a prime time slot in the schedule, this is a testament to the quality of content and reaction from listeners that this show receives.
Less than six months into the new roll, In October of 2021, Louise’s show “The Hub” was awarded a bronze award at the National IMRO Radio Awards in the Magazine Show category. (This is like the Irish Radio Oscars, for any non-radio readers).
While continuing to work at Flirt FM, she then scooped up a weekend job at iRadio presenting iTest, which later became First Play. She also added iWeekend, a Saturday afternoon show to her radio suitcase, spending her weekends blissfully playing music and talking on the airwaves to the most fantastic listeners.
After spending 8 years presenting at the weekends and being iRadios main cover presenter, In January 2019 Louise landed her dream job with iRadio, taking over their talk show, “The Hub” it broadcasted Sunday – Thursday evenings 9pm – Midnight.
After two successful years broadcasting at that time slot, the CEO Mark Cunning decided the show needed to be heard at an earlier time and offered Louise the prime time slot of 6pm – 9pm – Monday to Friday.
This is the first time since the station's launch in 2008, where a talk show of this nature has been placed at a prime time slot in the schedule, this is a testament to the quality of content and reaction from listeners that this show receives.
Less than six months into the new roll, In October of 2021, Louise’s show “The Hub” was awarded a bronze award at the National IMRO Radio Awards in the Magazine Show category. (This is like the Irish Radio Oscars, for any non-radio readers).
Aidan Butler
Aidan was the senior music producer in R.T.E. Radio1. He produced such diverse programmes such as Country Time, Roots Freeway, Ceilí House, In Concert, In Session and Jazz on the Bay. He also was the main producer behind the RTE Radio1 Playlist and Album of the Week and as such spends a lot of time listening to new music and, as can be seen by the Playlist over the past few years, one of the main supporters of new Irish music.
Aidan became a 2Fm producer in the late 90s’. One of the few male producers on the late Gerry Ryan Show and also Gareth O’Callaghan’s Breakfast Show before moving back to Radio 1 to produce the John Creedon Show and looking after and supplying the Today with Pat Kenny show with all its live music acts. During his tenure on that show, he gave their first radio openings to such acts as James Vincent McMurrow, Gavin James, Lisa Hannigan and Morrissey and Marshall.
Aidan became a 2Fm producer in the late 90s’. One of the few male producers on the late Gerry Ryan Show and also Gareth O’Callaghan’s Breakfast Show before moving back to Radio 1 to produce the John Creedon Show and looking after and supplying the Today with Pat Kenny show with all its live music acts. During his tenure on that show, he gave their first radio openings to such acts as James Vincent McMurrow, Gavin James, Lisa Hannigan and Morrissey and Marshall.
Andrew Bass
Dubliner Andrew Bass has been a stalwart figure on the Irish music scene since the 1980s, during which time he has professionally performed a number of roles, from musician and songwriter to national and international booking agent dealing with a broad selection of musical genres.
A loyal fan of The Clash, Bass cut his musical teeth as a singer and songwriter, and then scored a key slot as part of the road crew for In Tua Nua.
He set up The Attic venue in Dublin, booking acts of the calibre of Therapy?, Green Day, Whipping Boy and Pet Lamb. He became Managing Director of the Central Entertainment Bureau and booked acts into a wide range of venues, from Gibney’s in Malahide to the Portalen Theatre and Culture House in Copenhagen to numerous venues in the Middle East. In the year 2010 alone, it is reckoned that the CEB paid Irish musicians over €3 million in fees!
Bass’s role as booking agent has seen Bass set up gigs and tours for acts as significant as Damien Dempsey, Brian Downey and others, including his daughter Sarah and son Josh who are enthusiastically keeping the family music tradition alive with their own projects.
He set up the Oblivion recording studio and produced numerous records including renowned bluesman Pat Farrell and a much-admired recording of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in support of the Seán Cox campaign.
During the recent lockdowns he’s been co-producing (along with former 2fm producer Ian Wilson) and hosting the on-line series Sessions From Oblivion which not only give valuable global exposure to emergent Irish talent but also uses music industry experts to offer practical advice.
Throughout his career, Bass has proven himself to be a man of relentless energy in pursuit of new musical adventures while also retaining his strict adherence to professional business principles.
A loyal fan of The Clash, Bass cut his musical teeth as a singer and songwriter, and then scored a key slot as part of the road crew for In Tua Nua.
He set up The Attic venue in Dublin, booking acts of the calibre of Therapy?, Green Day, Whipping Boy and Pet Lamb. He became Managing Director of the Central Entertainment Bureau and booked acts into a wide range of venues, from Gibney’s in Malahide to the Portalen Theatre and Culture House in Copenhagen to numerous venues in the Middle East. In the year 2010 alone, it is reckoned that the CEB paid Irish musicians over €3 million in fees!
Bass’s role as booking agent has seen Bass set up gigs and tours for acts as significant as Damien Dempsey, Brian Downey and others, including his daughter Sarah and son Josh who are enthusiastically keeping the family music tradition alive with their own projects.
He set up the Oblivion recording studio and produced numerous records including renowned bluesman Pat Farrell and a much-admired recording of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in support of the Seán Cox campaign.
During the recent lockdowns he’s been co-producing (along with former 2fm producer Ian Wilson) and hosting the on-line series Sessions From Oblivion which not only give valuable global exposure to emergent Irish talent but also uses music industry experts to offer practical advice.
Throughout his career, Bass has proven himself to be a man of relentless energy in pursuit of new musical adventures while also retaining his strict adherence to professional business principles.
MaryCoughlan
Mary Coughlan is one of Ireland’s greatest soulful jazz and blues singers, a true artist who has crafted
a timeless and highly regarded, versatile career with devoted fans worldwide.
Mary has lived through childhood trauma, alcoholism and drug addiction to become a musical force like
no other; redeemed and transformed through the creative power of music. She embraces each song
with empathy, courage interspersed with humour, emotions that reach way beyond the stage
connecting with each and everyone in the audience.
She has created a play with a unique, hauntingly beautiful, award-nominated soundscape, WOMAN
UNDONE, in collaboration with The Brokentalkers and Valgeir Sigur sson revisiting the archetypal
themes of her songs about love and loss, trauma and womanhood.
Her debut album Tired and Emotional rocketed her to overnight fame in 1985 and 15 albums later
she is writing songs for another and continues to mesmerize live audiences in sold out houses
throughout Europe, UK, Australia and New Zealand with her versatile velvet voice.
a timeless and highly regarded, versatile career with devoted fans worldwide.
Mary has lived through childhood trauma, alcoholism and drug addiction to become a musical force like
no other; redeemed and transformed through the creative power of music. She embraces each song
with empathy, courage interspersed with humour, emotions that reach way beyond the stage
connecting with each and everyone in the audience.
She has created a play with a unique, hauntingly beautiful, award-nominated soundscape, WOMAN
UNDONE, in collaboration with The Brokentalkers and Valgeir Sigur sson revisiting the archetypal
themes of her songs about love and loss, trauma and womanhood.
Her debut album Tired and Emotional rocketed her to overnight fame in 1985 and 15 albums later
she is writing songs for another and continues to mesmerize live audiences in sold out houses
throughout Europe, UK, Australia and New Zealand with her versatile velvet voice.
Jackie McMullen
Jackie is a Finance Manager for a biopharma company. She has a 1st class Honours degree in Business and Marketing and is a part qualified accountant (ACCA).
She has knowledge and experience of the music industry as her husband, Dickon Whitehead, has worked as a live sound engineer for the past 30 years, while her daughter, Jessie Whitehead, is a music teacher and musician.
She became involved with MEAI in 2020 to offer whatever advice and support she could to help highlight the financial issues that were not fully addressed by the government such as:
- the PUP did not recognise multiple sources of income in determining the level of payment.
- the treatment of the PUP as a personal payment and not a business payment and the tax implications of this.
- a lot of the schemes were not available to non-rate paying businesses or businesses that did not have employees.
- the implications of being in receipt of PUP versus Job Seekers Benefit.
She has knowledge and experience of the music industry as her husband, Dickon Whitehead, has worked as a live sound engineer for the past 30 years, while her daughter, Jessie Whitehead, is a music teacher and musician.
She became involved with MEAI in 2020 to offer whatever advice and support she could to help highlight the financial issues that were not fully addressed by the government such as:
- the PUP did not recognise multiple sources of income in determining the level of payment.
- the treatment of the PUP as a personal payment and not a business payment and the tax implications of this.
- a lot of the schemes were not available to non-rate paying businesses or businesses that did not have employees.
- the implications of being in receipt of PUP versus Job Seekers Benefit.
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