Helen Hegarty is originally from County Clare. She has a degree in Law from University College Dublin, and a Diploma in French Law and Legal Translation from Université Paris X.

In 2008, she participated in a preparatory course for Irish speakers who wished to apply for lawyer-linguist positions in the European institutions; this course was organised by King’s Inns in association with Gaelchultúr Ltd. She was awarded the highest mark in the course that year and was involved in the delivery of the course in 2009.

She was awarded the Séala Creidiúnaithe d’Aistritheoirí in 2009, and she is a member of the panel of accredited translators for the public sector – translators who have achieved a standard of excellence.

She recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Translation and Editing with the Language Centre, National University of Ireland, Maynooth. She was awarded first class honours in that course and she won ‘Duais Uí Dhoibhlin i Léann an Aistriúcháin’. That prize is awarded to the person who receives the highest mark in the Postgraduate Diploma.

Helen was awarded the Séala Creidiúnaithe d’Eagarthóirí in July 2011, and she is one of eight accredited editors for the public sector – editors who have achieved a standard of excellence.

She completed a Higher Diploma in Lawyer-Linguistics and Legal Translation with King’s Inns in 2011. She was awarded distinction in that course and came first in her class.

Helen began teaching with Gaelchultúr in September 2008, and since then has taught evening classes and Irish for specific purposes courses. She has developed syllabuses and learning materials for the company’s general courses and specialised courses, and she is a co-author of the grammar glance card QuickGuide Irish Grammar. She has written several e-learning courses for Gaelchultúr’s e-learning website, and she has edited others. Helen has been the editor of the Gaelchultúr newsletter since October 2010.