MEET THE TEAM

When we opened our doors in the summer of 2007, we had no staff, just fanatical volunteers. In June 2008, Stuart Bailie (founding CEO) and Charlotte Dryden became the centre's first official workers. Since then, we have grown to eleven core staff members who allow this amazing project to roll the way that it does.

In 2016, Oh Yeah entered a new phase. Stuart Bailie announced he would be moving on. In June, Charlotte was appointed as CEO and in October, Damien McAdams took up the new position of Operations Director.

CHARLOTTE DRYDEN
CEO

Best thing about your job?
Supporting others in doing great work. I also find it a privilege to champion music from NI whenever and wherever possible.

Best gig you’ve attended in Oh Yeah?
Argh so many! Women’s Work 2017 Showcase was pretty special. It really felt like a turning point for women in music, a coming together, an incredible lineup, community vibes, a sense of change. Brilliant gig.

Dream gig ticket to see?
I would have loved to see Nina Simone at Carnegie Hall.

DEE McADAMS
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Best thing about your job?
Getting to work with incredibly talented, creative, passionate and driven people. And seeing the happiness that music brings to audiences and artists.

Best gig you’ve attended in Oh Yeah?
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - incredible energy in the room. Showed me the great potential the venue has.

Dream gig ticket to see?
The Strokes supported by Idles, with Gram Parsons as an opening act in the old Mandela Hall. I mean that’s nonsense fantasy stuff right there.

CAOIMHE O’CONNELL
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

Best thing about your job?
My job here brings all of my passions together; live music, the creative arts, youth work and education. But the overall best thing about working in Oh Yeah is the team of people I have around me. They are a constant source of support, advice and seriously good craic.

Best gig you’ve attended in Oh Yeah?
Clash of the New Breeds 2022 - The biggest and best youth gig to date. The venue was full of young people, dancing, laughing, recording and making memories and so many wonderful opportunities arose from that gig.

Dream gig ticket to see?
I would have given anything to have seen Amy Winehouse apart from that I have always wanted to go to Glastonbury but have never managed to get a ticket.

CHARLENE HEGARTY
TALENT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Best thing about your job?
Helping musicians find a way forward with their music. Having a hand in that real-life progress and watching those artists flourish and build careers is a privilege.

Best gig you’ve attended in Oh Yeah?
Output 2019 - the venue, the performers, the crowd. There was magic in the air that night and if you were there you probably felt that too.

Dream gig ticket to see?
Madonna at any point in the 80s. She was and remains to be an icon.

LISA SCHOFIELD
FINANCE ASSISTANT

Best thing about your job?
Having a job in music that 15-year-old me would’ve been beside herself about (finally).

Best gig you’ve attended in Oh Yeah?
Ash. I wasn’t supposed to be there but there was a big accident and I couldn’t get home, watching them sing Oh Yeah on the Oh Yeah stage. Or Bastille soundchecking way before they were famous.

Dream gig ticket to see?
The Beatles in the early days at the Cavern Club.

PAUL KANE
MUSIC & OLDER PEOPLE’S MANAGER

Best thing about your job?
Providing a voice for older people and hearing incredible stories.

Best gig you’ve attended in Oh Yeah?
Acoustic Picnic featuring three musician from the Drake Project.

Dream gig ticket to see?
Elvis Presley Louisiana Hayride, October 15th ‘54, Shreveport.

RYAN O’NEILL
VENUE COORDINATOR

Best thing about your job?
Playing an active role in facilitating and promoting music as a positive force for social good in the local community, and wider world. Working alongside, and meeting all sorts of wonderful people.

Best gig you’ve attended in Oh Yeah?
Very difficult question! Jape, Ryan Vail and Go Wolf back in 2013 was definitely a highlight.

Dream gig ticket to see?
One of the Talking Heads ‘Stop Making Sense’ shows or Radiohead at Glastonbury in ‘97.

SEÁN RICKARD
OPERATIONS & Administration ASSISTANT

Best thing about your job?
It perfectly complements my passions outside of work and I’m privileged to be one of those people who enjoys going to work every day.

Best gig you’ve attended in Oh Yeah?
Kitt Philippa, Owen Denvir and Joshua Burnside in October ‘15.

Dream gig ticket to see?
Jeff Buckley, in a quiet old man bar.

RÍONACH O’DONNELL
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Best thing about your job?
That every day is different and there are always exciting new things happening at Oh Yeah.

Best gig you’ve attended in Oh Yeah?
Mick Flannery back in 2019.

Dream gig ticket to see?
Has to be Jimi Hendrix back in the day!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Paul Evans, Chairperson
Lynne Best, Vice Chairperson


Jeremy Fitch, Director
Paul McClean, Director
Ailish McKenna, Director
Gerard Murray, Director
Carl Southern, Director

Harry Martin

Gemma Bradley