Aoife Griffin
Where do you live? Boston, MA.
Current company and position? Based in Boston, I am working to advance the future of Irish traditional arts & culture through multiple leadership roles. I serve as Director of the Boston Comhaltas Irish Music School, where I am working to expand access to high-level music education and supporting the next generation of Irish tradition bearers. I am the co-founder & Vice President of Mná Mheiriceá, empowering Irish-American women through connection, wellness and shared heritage. I am also the CEO & founder of The Cultúr Co., where I provide strategic guidance & marketing services to Irish artists, festivals, and cultural organizations across the diaspora, helping Irish culture thrive globally.
First job and what it taught me? My first job was in the local Spar shop and filling station in County Roscommon. It taught me the value of showing up on time with respect, responsibility, and a good attitude no matter the task. I learned how to build relationships with people from all walks of life, the importance of community, and most importantly… how to properly sweep a floor - There was no hoover in that store!!! That experience at the young age of 15 grounded me in the belief that good leadership begins with service, and a good leader is someone who is hard working, willing to pitch in and do the work alongside their team.
How do you embrace your Irish heritage? Irish heritage isn’t something I switch on.. it’s the heart of who I am. I live it through music, language, community, and the way I care for others. As a fiddle player and educator, I pass on the rhythms and music of Ireland to musicians young & old, helping them find their place in the tradition. I speak as Gaeilge whenever I can, and I create welcoming spaces where people feel a sense of belonging and pride in their identity whether they’re Irish-born or discovering their Irish roots for the first time. By leading, teaching, advocating, and connecting, I hope to reflect the contemporary Ireland I love: warm, creative, resilient, and thriving across the diaspora.
Something people would be surprised to know about me... I take care of a gentleman living with dementia and Alzheimer’s in our local community. This experience has taught me patience, presence, and what truly matters in life, and the importance of building a village around those in vulnerable situations. It keeps me grounded in kindness and reminds me that giving back is a privilege. Since moving to the U.S., I’ve learned that age doesn’t define friendship. Some of my closest friends, allies and greatest supports here have decades more life experience than me, and I truly treasure those intergenerational relationships.
Biography: Aoife Griffin is a fiddle player, educator, and cultural leader from Co. Roscommon, dedicated to nurturing the future of Irish traditional arts and the global Irish diaspora. Based in Boston, she serves as Director of the Comhaltas Boston Irish Music School, expanding access to high-level music education and supporting emerging talent. She co-founded Mná Mheiriceá, empowering Irish-American women through cultural connection and leadership, and is the CEO of The Cultúr Co., a strategy and marketing consultancy helping Irish artists, festivals, and cultural organizations worldwide. Aoife also volunteers as Chairperson of Irish Network Boston and champions Irish identity through creativity, community & culture.
