Get to know us

Meet our staff. Fully qualified and with an amazing career behind their backs.

Owner: Jackie Walshe

Jackie worked in a Montessori School in Dublin in 1992 and in 1993 opened Playmates Montessori School

BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Care and Education

Qualified 2020 FETAC Level 8:

Carlow Institute of Technology

Advanced Diploma in Montessori Education

Qualified in 1992 FETAC Level 6:

St Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland

Non mandatory in-service training:

2010-2014 Participated in all 16 standards of Siolta Workshops

2011 Búntus Training - PE

2012 Music Matters

Simon and Friends Road Safety

2016 Autism Course, April 2016, provided by ECI

2017 Hanen Training

Equality Diversity & Inclusion

2017-2018 Online course – LINC

LAMH Training provided via AIM

2018-2019 Aistear Siolta Play

2021 – 2023 Completed 3 of the 3 sessions for Hanen

2024 FAR Training

2025 Talk Boost

2025 Updated Aistear Training

Shirley Coleman. Teacher

Advanced Certificate in Early Childcare and Education

Qualified in 2000 FETAC Level 6

Qualified from Drogheda College of Further Education

24 Years Experience (2001)

Maryellen Smith

Deputy Manager / Teacher

BA Honours in Early Childhood Care and Education

Qualified 2015 FETAC Level 8:in 2022

Qualified from – University of East London

7 Years Experience (2018)

Rachel Doherty. Teacher

Bachelor of Arts in Montessori

Qualified in 2019 FETAC Level 7

Qualified from Carlow Institute of Technology

14 Years Experience (2011)

Room 1

Room 2

Jaime Byrne. Teacher & Presentation Link Hour

Advanced Certificate in Early Childcare and Education

Qualified in 2023 FETAC Level 6

Qualified from Portobello College

Bachelor in Education and Training

Qualified in 2017 Vetec Level 8

Qualified from Dublin City University

8 Years Experience (2017)

Sara Chaparro Lopez. Teacher & Presentation Link Hour

Masters in Early Childcare and Education

Qualified in 2015 Vetec FETAC 9

Qualified from Universidad Complutense De Madrid

10 Years Experience (2017)

Joanne Tyrrell. AIM Teacher & St Joseph’s Link Hour

Certificate in Early Childcare and Education

Qualified in October 2021 FETAC Level 6

Qualified from University of Limerick

5 Years Experience

Room 3

Maryellen Smith Deputy Manager / Teacher

BA Honours in Early Childhood Care and Education

Qualified 2015 FETAC Level 8 in 2022

Qualified from – University of East London

7 Years Experience (2018)

Kelly Hickey. Teacher

Advanced Certificate in Early Childcare and Education

Qualified in June 2021 FETAC Level 6

Qualified from Drogheda College of Further Education

4 Years Experience (2021)

Michaela Olivova. AIM Teacher & St Joseph’s Link Hour

Advanced Certificate in Early Childcare and Education

Qualified in June 2025 FETAC Level 6

Qualified from Drogheda College of Further Education

3 Years Experience