Meet the Team

From weekly markets to TradFest, content creation to area maintenance;

get to know the team behind Temple Bar.

CEO

Martin Harte

Martin Harte is CEO and co-founder of the Temple Bar Company. Martin also acts as Festival Director of the annual TradFest, one of Ireland’s largest and most diverse festivals of traditional, folk and world music, and Dublin’s’ Festival of Politics.

Martin has a wide range of experience in Public Affairs, Tourism, Arts and Urban Management having spent over 20 years working in the Temple Bar area.

More recently he has become involved in TV production with Ireland In Music, a new TV Music Show on RTE and podcast production and development.

Chief Operating Officer

Claudine Murray

Claudine Murray has over 20 years’ experience in marketing with a strong focus on festivals and event management.

She has worked on a number of events with the Temple Bar Company including TradFest, Festival of Politics, Temple Bar Tailgates, Blooms Day, Croke Park Classics, and the Temple Bar Summer Night Market.

Business Development Executive

Niamh Murphy

Niamh Murphy joined the team in June 2023 to consult in the relaunch of Temple Bar Markets.

With Niamh at the helm, the market has undergone a transformative rejuvenation, ensuring an unparalleled experience for food enthusiasts & casual visitors alike. She has since taken over the curation of Cow's Lane Craft Market, Book Market and Moore Street Craft & Food Market.

She also manages the running of logistics for TradFest.

Niamh has a dynamic background with over a decade of experience as a senior manager in luxury retail and is a passionate food enthusiast with a Culinary background.

Chairman

Noel Dempsey

Noel Dempsey is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a TD for the Meath and Meath West constituencies from 1987 to 2011. Noel also served as Minister for Environment and Local Government (1997–2002), Minister for Education and Science (2002–04), Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (2004–07) and Minister for Transport (2007–11).

Noel has served as Chairman of The Temple Bar Company since 2014.

Social Media Manager

Michaela Courtney

Michaela Courtney is a social media and marketing strategist who’s recently joined the Temple Bar team in 2024.

With over a decade spent assisting teams of all sizes and sectors in navigating the social media landscape, creating engaging content and building consistent brand awareness; Michaela's focus is heightening the value of the Temple Bar area, its businesses, stories, history and people across digital channels and audiences.

Cultural, Community & Office Administrator

Medana Socaciu

The Temple Bar Company are delighted to welcome Medana to the team as our new office admin and sales support.

Medana is an accomplished retail management professional with a demonstrated history of driving success through strategic planning and team leadership.

TradFest Team

Festival Artistic Director

Kieran Hanrahan

Kieran Hanrahan is one of Ireland’s most respected tenor banjo players in Irish traditional music.

Over the years Kieran has helped to found a number of bands: Inchiquin, Stockton’s Wing and The Templehouse Ceili Band.

Kieran presents Ceili House, one of RTE Radio’s traditional Irish music show. Kieran also works as an advisor to Ceolthas, is Artistic Director of Scoil Egise (part of Fleadh Ceoil Na h ‘Eireann) and was recently appointed Chair of Chair of Culture Ireland Expert Advisory Committee.

Podcast Producer

Aidan Butler

A senior music producer for RTE Radio 1 For 16 years, Aidan Butler was responsible for such diverse programmes as Country Time, Roots Freeway, Ceilí House, In Concert, In Session and Jazz on the Bay series. He was also the main producer behind the Radio 1 Playlist and Album of the Week, becoming one of the main supporters of new Irish music.

Described by Hot Press as Ireland’s John Peel due to his zeal for discovering untapped talent, he gave radio debuts to the likes of James Vincent McMorrow, Gavin James and Lisa Hannigan.

EDI Researcher and Advisor

Emma Grove

Emma Grove is a postgraduate researcher who joined the Temple Bar Company in 2021. She received her M.A. with first class honours in music at the University of Glasgow and her masters with first class honours in Music and Culture from University College Dublin. Her role is to research issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion for TradFest Temple Bar and aid in policy making for future events.