Aoibhinn is currently studying a PhD with Trinity College Dublin, School of Education, in Mathematics Education and graduated with a first class honours degree in Theoretical Physics from University College Dublin. Aoibhinn is passionate about education and has taught Mathematics, Physics, Science and Applied Mathematics in a secondary school in Dublin for four years. She is also a facilitator on the Project Maths team training teachers in the new strands of the mathematics syllabus.
For the past five years she has co-hosted the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition Opening Ceremonies and Award Ceremonies with Ray D’Arcy and Aidan Power and has hosted the associated corporate evening for the past three years. As the teacher representative on the Department of Education and Skills ‘Project Maths Implementation Support Group’ she is very involved in the new mathematics syllabus being rolled out nationally. She was the country’s official ‘Ambassador for Science’ in 2005 and 2006 launching Science Week, presenting science lectures in various educational institutions throughout the country and has hosted the Discover Primary Science award ceremonies for the past three years. She has studied and worked in CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research) and actively promotes science and mathematics through her work with ‘Discover Science and Engineering’, a branch of the governmental body Fórfas, and with the Science Gallery in Trinity College Dublin.
Aoibhinn has presented the 2011 ‘An Cór’ series following the history of Irish songs throughout the country and hosting the choir competitions as part of this cultural and colourful programme. For the past five years Aoibhinn has co-presented the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition and has also been a representative for
‘Seachtain na Gaeilge’ promoting the Irish language and culture. She has co-presented the Reel Deel, a series portraying traditional Irish music in modern Ireland with musician profiles, interviews and lively music from all around the country on RTE 1 and for two years was a regular contributor to The Panel, a lively discussion show inviting observations and satirical commentary on current affairs. She has enjoyed presenting No Frontiers stories promoting the virtues of volunteering at a Lion Park in Johannesburg and examining the pros and cons of a budget break in Slovenia and recently presented science clips as educational resources for Irish speaking students throughout the country.
Aoibhinn has been a stand-in presenter for Sean Moncreiff, Tom Dunne, the Orla Barry Show and an Irish language programme ‘Splanc’ on Newstalk. She has also enjoyed being a regular presenter on Radio na Life, the Irish language Dublin community radio station with the weekly show ‘Fios Feasa’ reporting on cultural events around the country. Over the past few weeks she has been standing in on the Shenanigans saturday afternoon show on Newstalk for Sile Seoige.
Raised in Carnacon, Co. Mayo, Aoibhinn’s mother Máire, vice-principal of the Gaelscoil in Castlebar, and her father Art, a native Irish speaker from Corr na Móna, Co. Galway and director of the Mayo Education Centre, raised their children in a bilingual household. Aoibhinn was invited to become a representative for the 2010 Seachtain na Gaeilge after she had launched the 2009 Seachtain na Gaeilge in the Button Factory, Templeb
ar and presented an hour-long episode of the Irish language show Cartaí Phoist recreating the John Hinde photos taken in the 1960s. Aoibhinn has made guest appearances on many TG4 shows including I bhFócus, Árdán, An Tuath Nua and Timpeall na Tíre. She has hosted many Foras na Gaeilge events and has also acted as a bilingual interviewer with the magazine TVNow.
In 2008 she took part in the reality television show Celebrity Bainisteoir and has since maintained a strong interest in GAA. She has braved the infamous Podge and Rodge show, has
participated on both Panel Live national tours and has also contributed to such shows as Backstage – the All Ireland Talent Show, Lookback on the Decade, Up for the Match, Scope and Dustin’s Daily News.
Long affiliated with traditional Irish music, Aoibhinn has won various awards for sean-nós singing and also plays the concertina. She toured with the traditional Irish music group Rágus as their singer on their American, Japanese and European tours and has sung with such artists as Sharon Shannon and Mundy.
Crowned International Rose of Tralee 2005, Aoibhinn acted as ambassador for the festival attending various international events and appearing on such shows as Questions and Answers and Test the Nation. She was official ambassador for the Hope Foundation, raising awareness for the org
anisation’s work and fund-raising for the street children and underprivileged communities in Calcutta whom she visited in July 2006.
