Oide, the national professional learning support service operating under the Department of Education and Youth, is pleased to announce the appointment of Donncha Ó Treasaigh as Director of Leadership.
Mr. Ó Treasaigh brings over two decades of distinguished educational leadership, executive governance, and strategic innovation to Oide. Most recently serving as Director of Schools at Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) since June 2019, Donncha also served as Acting Chief Executive in 2024/2025 with executive oversight for a significant multi-million budget and 2,600 staff. He brings a proven track record of transformational leadership working in primary, post-primary, special education, and youth work.
In his new role as Director of Leadership, Mr. Ó Treasaigh will lead national strategies and leadership professional learning (LPL) frameworks designed to empower school leaders - including principals, deputy principals, middle management and teacher leaders - across Ireland during a period of major curriculum redevelopment and systemic reform.
Welcoming Donncha, Dr. Pádraig Kirk, Managing Director of Oide stated, “Oide is delighted to welcome Donnacha into the organisation. As the leading organisation in the provision of professional learning in Irish education, I am confident that Donncha brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the role and at a crucial time for all schools given the significant changes and challenges that the sectors face. He will build on the solid work undertaken by his predecessor, Dr. Mary Nihill, in supporting leaders at all levels on their journey in all schools”.
"I am deeply honoured to be appointed Director of Leadership at Oide," said Donncha Ó Treasaigh. "School leadership is central to embedding educational quality, equity, and innovation in our communities. My core vision is to cultivate a research-informed, sustainable leadership culture that directly addresses leader wellbeing, eliminates professional isolation, and strengthens robust distributed leadership capacity across every school community in Ireland."
Throughout his career, Donncha has consistently pioneered system-level transformations, inclusive education developments, and collaborative professional networks:
- Founding Principal, Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh (2006–2019): Led the strategic growth of the Irish-medium post-primary school from 31 to 700 students. Under the Looking at Our Schools framework, he embedded a peer-to-peer professional development model, digital methodologies, and formative assessment practices highly commended by the Department Inspectorate.
- System Transformation & Large-Scale Governance: Led key regional transformations as Director of Schools, including the three-school amalgamation establishing Ennistymon Community School and the design and implementation of the centralised Ennis Unified Admissions Process to post-primary schools in the town.
- Champion of Special Educational Needs (SEN): Led the successful application and establishment of the new Limerick Community Special School. Under his leadership, special classes across LCETB expanded fourfold from 13 in 2019 to 51 in 2026.
- Pioneering Teacher Professional Learning (TPL): Scaled regional Communities of Practice (CoPs) across primary and post-primary schools for Middle Leadership, Student Support Teams, Digital Leaders, TY Coordinators, and Special Class Coordinators. He also spearheaded the LCETB-University of Limerick Cooperating Teacher Micro-Credential partnership.
- National & Board Governance: Served on the Department of Education Digital Strategy Implementation Advisory Group, NAPD National Executive, Chair of the Hunt Museum, Chair of the Limerick Education Centre, and Comhchathaoirleach of Líonra na gCeannairí Scoileanna (ETBI). Donncha has served on several boards at primary and community school level across Limerick and Clare.
Three priorities that Mr. Ó Treasaigh will focus on to support school leaders during his tenure are:
- Sustainable Leadership and Leader Wellbeing: Designing TPL frameworks and support systems that build resilience, reflect school realities, and protect leader wellbeing against burnout and administrative strains.
- Developing Capacity and Distributed Leadership: Advancing leadership models in partnership with the DEY, Oide, IPPN, NAPD, and Education Support Centres to empower middle leaders and build future senior leadership capacity.
- Navigating Systemic Change and Curricular Reform: Equipping school leaders with the instructional leadership required to translate macro reforms - including the Primary Curriculum Framework and Senior Cycle redevelopment - into practical, school-level practices.
Mr. Ó Treasaigh holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, a Diploma in Education Law (Hons.) from the Law Society of Ireland, a Higher Diploma in ICT from Maynooth University, and a BA from the University of Limerick. He is a passionate advocate for Gaeloideachas and is fluent in Irish.