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Biography

Jacinta Greene-Beatty is a native of Roscommon, lectures in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Southeast Technological University (SETU). She is a graduate of Technological University Dublin, Trinity College and University College Dublin. Her qualifications include a H.Dip in Hospitality Management, BSc in Management, and a Masters in both in Rural Development  and in Education. Her Masters thesis on Rural Community Tourism featured in National Press.  Her professional career commenced in the Hospitality Profession in Switzerland.

Jacinta has accumulated 30 years of lecturing experience including curriculum design and delivery and is  also Student Work Placement Coordinator within the Department of Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism in SETU. More recently Jacinta initiated and is Programme Leader for the first in Ireland, Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management; Bachelor of Business in Hospitality and Tourism Management. This WIL hybrid degree has been co-designed with best practice operators, stakeholders and Industry Representative bodies including,  Failte Ireland, Irish Hotels Federation ( IHF) Irish Tourism Institute Confederation (ITIC),  County Wexford Chambre Skill Net,  Southeast Regional Skills Network. to name but a few. Jacinta has been mentored by Mr. Gerald Lawless, former CEO of Jumeirah Hotels, Dubai and  former Chair of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) In 2025 Jacinta established an External Advisory Board (EAB) which was launched by Mr.Cyril McAree, Managing Editor of Ireland’s leading business publication; The Hotel and Restaurant Times. 

Mr. Mark Dunne, General Manager of Mount Juliet Estate, Thomas Town, Co Kilkenny is the first external Co-chair of the EAB. Mark is a wonderful ambassador for the Hospitality Profession and SETU alumni.

Jacinta is a member of the World Association for Co-operative and Work Integrated Education (WACE), Higher Education Lifelong Learning Network( HELLEN)  SETU’s Irish Studies Research Group and of INSYTE - Cooley Research Lab. Her research interests include Work Integrated Learning and Rural Community Tourism. In 2026, Jacinta was invited to present a participatory research project entitled ' A model for the development of a Micro Pilgrimage Route, based on Emlagh, Castlerea, County Roscommon' at the INSYTE -Cooley Research Lab and Library Showcase hosted by SETU in May 2026. A serendipitous occasion to present a research project with strong connections to Dr. Douglas Hyde,  Ireland's first President to Ireland's nineth President Michael. D. Higgins,  who was the recipient of the Mike Cooley Award 2026. 

 The special Micro Pilgrimage route begins at Trinity Arts Centre, Castlerea (where Douglas Hyde was baptized ) and takes pilgrims along a rural peaceful trail, less than 10km (round trip) to a National State Monument of the highest decree; Emlagh High Cross which is located  in a sacred landscape, where St Patrick founded a Church in 435 AD.  In July 2025, Liz Murray, SETU PhD researcher collaborated with Jacinta and shared her research reflections on the Development of Micro Pilgrimage Routes, with the local community in Castlerea, which not only  raised awareness about the new Sport Ireland Registered Trail 'Bóthar Bhrochaid’ called after the patron Saint of Emlagh but also that 'two shorten the road'/'Gíorraionn Beirt Bóthar'.