Mr Adrian O’Carroll elected Chair of the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland

The Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland today announced the appointment of Mr Adrian O’Carroll to the position of Chair. 

Mr Adrian O’Carroll, Chair of the National Gallery of Ireland, said: “I am honoured to be elected to lead the Board of the National Gallery of Ireland and to work in collaboration with Dr Caroline Campbell, the Director of the Gallery and the Executive Leadership Team. I take up this role before the Gallery publishes its new Strategic Plan, and embarks on its implementation with our stakeholders. I care deeply for the Gallery and I believe in the transformative power of art to inspire and connect people, enrich lives and contribute to Ireland’s cultural reputation at home and abroad. Working with the Board and the Executive, we will endeavour to ensure that the Gallery is a beacon of inclusivity, sustainability and diversity as we strive to be a leading model for national galleries.”

Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, said: “The National Gallery of Ireland is among the earliest public art galleries in the Western world. We hold one of Europe’s finest public art collections in trust for the people of Ireland, and for visitors from across the world. I am delighted that Adrian O’Carroll has been elected to the role of Chair of the Gallery. He brings an array of skills and experience from both the arts and business sectors, and his election as Chair will further strengthen our Board’s effectiveness and success. I look forward to working with Adrian and the Board as we implement our forthcoming new Strategic Plan. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of our outgoing Chair, Ms Mary Keane, and to thank her for her commitment to the National Gallery of Ireland since 2014.”

Mr Adrian O’Carroll is from Killybegs in Donegal and is a graduate of University College Dublin. He lives in Dublin with his wife Jennifer and their family. He has over 25 years’ experience carrying out financial and operational analysis of a wide array of organisations including being a co-founder and Director of Merrion Capital Group as it became one of Ireland’s leading stock broking, fund management and corporate finance organisations. 

In the last 15 years, he has applied that experience to the arts sector on a voluntary basis. He is a Board Member of Project Arts Centre, Ireland’s National Centre for Contemporary Arts, and is Chair of its finance committee.  He is also a Board Member of AKO Capital, one of Europe’s leading investment partnerships. A large share of AKO’s profit each year goes to the AKO Foundation to support charitable causes that seek to improve education, promote the arts or mitigate climate problems. In recent years, O’Carroll has also developed his own photography practice, has published two books and has shown in a number of exhibitions. Mr O’Carroll was first appointed to the Board of the Gallery by Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in 2023. He succeeds Ms Mary Keane who was appointed to the Board in 2014 and has served as Chair since 2019.

The Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland comprises up to seventeen members, of which ten are appointed by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, five are ex-officio holders of the offices listed below, and two are nominated and appointed by the Royal Hibernian Academy pursuant to a power bestowed on them in the 1854 Act. Members appointed by the Minister serve terms of five years. Ex-officio members serve terms of varying duration depending on the constitution of their organisation. 

• Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) | President
• Royal Dublin Society (RDS) | President and Vice President
• Royal Irish Academy (RIA) | President 
• Office of Public Works (OPW) | Chairman

Current members of the Board of the National Gallery of Ireland are: 

• Adrian O'Carroll (Chair) | Independent Non-Executive Director and Artist
• Dr Sandra Collins | University Librarian at University College Dublin
• John Conlon | Chairman of the Office of Public Works, (OPW).
• Diana Copperwhite | Member of the RHA, contemporary artist.
• Gary Coyle | Member of the RHA and Aosdána
• Dr Michelle D. Cullen | Managing Director, Board member and Head of Inclusion and Diversity at Accenture International
• John Dardis | President Royal Dublin Society
• Dan Flinter | Chairman of the boards of PM Group Holdings, The Irish National Stud and Gardens, The Irish Times and VCIM Venture Capital
• Caroline Grant | HR leader
• Professor Pat Guiry | President of the Royal Irish Academy
• Margie McCarthy | Director of Research and Policy Insights, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
• Terence McCrann | Mediator, Solicitor and Senior Counsel
• Abigail O'Brien | President of the RHA, Contemporary Artist
• Dr Ciarán O’Carroll | Lecturer specialising in Enterprise & Sustainability at Technological University Dublin
• John O'Doherty (Vice Chair) | Managing partner KOD Lyons Solicitors
• Hilary Hough | Vice-President Royal Dublin Society
• Niamh O’Connor | Board Secretary

ENDS

Media contact:

Fiona Sexton (Communications, National Gallery of Ireland): [email protected] | [email protected] 

Notes to Editor:

Images of Mr Adrian O’Carroll are available on the following link. https://we.tl/t-O2oxx2lz1v 

About the National Gallery of Ireland: 

The National Gallery of Ireland is one of the country’s most popular visitor attractions housing the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, and an extensive Library & Archive. Entry to the collection is free for all to enjoy, learn and be inspired.
2024 at the National Gallery of Ireland:
2024 marks the 160th anniversary of the opening of the National Gallery of Ireland on 30 January 1864 and the 170th anniversary of the establishment of the Gallery through the National Gallery of Ireland Act (1854) on 10 August 1854. The Gallery will publish a new strategic plan for the period 2024-28 in 2024.
Current exhibitions presented at the National Gallery of Ireland are:

• An Túr Gloine: Artists and the Collective (Room 11) – until 12 January 2025 (Admission Free) 
• Silent City (Print Gallery) – until 21 July 2024 (Admission Free)  
• Vermeer Visits (Room 38, Milltown Wing) – until 18 August 2024 (Admission Free) 
• Walter Frederick Osborne: The Guinness Portrait (Hugh Lane Room) – until 1 September 2024 (Admission Free) 
• Women Impressionists (Rooms 6-10) - until 6 October 2024 (Ticketed) 

Adrian O'Carroll arna thoghadh mar Chathaoirleach ar Bhord Gobharnóirí agus Caomhnóirí Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann

D’fhógair Bord Gobharnóirí agus Caomhnóirí Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann inniu go raibh Adrian O’Carroll ceaptha mar Chathaoirleach air.

Dúirt Adrian O’Carroll, Cathaoirleach Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann, “IIs mór an onóir dom gur toghadh mé chun bheith i gceannas ar Bhord Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann agus chun oibriú i gcomhar leis an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir an Ghailearaí, agus leis an bhFoireann Ceannaireachta Feidhmiúcháin. Glacaim leis an ról seo sula bhfoilsíonn an Ghilearaí an Plean Straitéiseach nua aige, agus sula dtosaíonn sé ar a chur i bhfeidhm lenár gcuid gheallsealbhóirí. Is mór agam an Gailearaí agus creidim i gcumhacht chlaochlaitheach na healaíne d'fhonn an pobal a spreagadh agus a cheangal le chéile, a gcuid shaolta a shaibhriú agus cur le cáil chultúrtha na hÉireann sa bhaile agus thar lear. Agus sinne ag obair leis an mBord agus leis an bhFeidhmeannas, déanfaimid ár ndícheall a chinntiú go bhfeidhmeodh an  Gailearaín mar chomhartha na cuimsitheachta, na hinbhuanaitheachta agus na héagsúlachta agus sinne ag iarraidh a fheidhmiú mar mhúnla na ceannaireachta le haghaidh gailearaithe náisiúnta.”

Dúirt an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann, “Tá Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ar cheann de na gailearaithe ealaíne poiblí is luaithe ar domhan an Iarthair. Tá ceann de na bailiúcháin ealaíne poiblí is fearr san Eoraip ar iontaoibh againn do mhuintir na hÉireann, agus do chuairteoirí ar fud an domhain. Cuireann sé áthas orm gur toghadh Adrian O’Carroll mar Chathaoirleach ar an nGailearaí. Tugann sé leis raon na scileanna agus na taithí ó earnálacha na n-ealaíon agus an ghnó araon, agus neartóidh a thoghadh mar Chathaoirleach éifeachtacht agus rathúlacht ár mBord a thuilleadh. Táim ag tnúth le bheith ag obair le Adrian agus leis an mBord agus ár bPlean Straitéiseach nua á chur i bhfeidhm againn. Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a thapú freisin chun aitheantas a thabhairt don méid a rinne ár gCathaoirleach atá ag dul as oifig, Mary Keane, agus buíochas a ghabháil léi as a cuid díograis do Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ón mbliain 2014 i leith.”

Is as na Cealla Beaga i nDún na nGall Adrian O’Carroll agus is céimí de chuid an Choláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath é. Tá sé ina chónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath lena bhean Jennifer agus a gclann. Tá taithí os cionn 25 bhliain aige ar anailís an  airgeadais agus an oibriúcháin a dhéanamh ar raon fairsing na n-eagraíochtaí lena n-áirítear a bheith ina chomhbhunaitheoir agus ina Stiúrthóir ar Merrion Capital Group,  ceann de na heagraíochtaí bróicéireachta stoic agus bainistíocht na gcistí agus an airgeadais chorparáidigh is mó le rá in Éirinn.

Le 15 bhliain anuas, chuir sé an taithí sin i bhfeidhm ar earnáil na n-ealaíon ar bhonn deonach. Tá sé ina Chomhalta Boird de Project Arts Centre, Lárionad Náisiúnta na hÉireann do na hEalaíona Comhaimseartha, agus tá sé ina Chathaoirleach ar choiste an airgeadais aige. Tá sé ina Chomhalta Boird freisin ar AKO Capital, ceann de na comhpháirtíochtaí infheistíochta is mó san Eoraip. Tugtar sciar mór de bhrabús AKO gach bliain d'Fhondúireacht AKO chun tacú le cúiseanna na carthanachta a iarrann an t-oideachas a fheabhsú, na healaíona a chur chun cinn nó fadhbanna na haeráide a mhaolú.Le blianta beaga anuas, rinne O’Carroll a chleachtadh grianghrafadóireachta féin a fhorbairt , tá dhá leabhar foilsithe aige agus léiriíodh cuid dá shaothar i roinnt taispeántas. Cheap Catherine Martin TD, an tAire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, an tUasal O'Carroll ar Bhord an Ghailearaí sa bhliain 2023. Tagann sé i gcomharbacht ar Mary Keane a ceapadh ar an mBord sa bhliain 2014 agus a d’fhreastail mar Chathaoirleach air ón mbliain 2019 i leith.

Freastalaíonn suas le seacht gcomhalta dhéag ar Bhord Gobharnóirí agus Caomhnóirí Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann, a bhfuil deichniúr acu ceaptha ag an tAire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, cúigear ina sealbhóirí ex-officio ar na hoifigí atá liostaithe thíos, agus beirt acu arna n-ainmniú agus arna gceapadh ag Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann de bhun na gcumhachta a bronnadh air ag an Acht 1854. Freastalaíonn na comhaltaí arna gceapadh ag an Aire ar théarmaí cúig bliana. Freastalaíonn na comhaltaí ex-officio ar théarmaí ar fhad éagsúla a mbrathann ar chomhdhéanamh na n-eagraíochta acu.

• An t-Acadamh Ríoga Hibearnach (ARH) | Uachtarán
• Cumann Ríoga Bhaile Átha Cliath (CRBÁC) |Uachtarán agus Leas-Uachtarán
• Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann (ARÉ) |Uachtarán
• Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí (OOP) |Cathaoirleach

Siad comhaltaí reatha Bhord Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ná:

• Adrian O'Carroll (Cathaoirleach) | Stiúrthóir Neamhspleách Neamhfheidhmiúcháin agus Ealaíontóir
• An Dr Sandra Collins | Leabharlannaí Ollscoile i gColáiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath
• Seán Conlon | Cathaoirleach Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí, (OOP).
• Diana Copperwhite |Comhalta den ARH agus ealaíontóir comhaimseartha .
• Gary Coyle | Comhalta den ARH agus d'Aosdána
• An Dr Michelle D. Cullen |Stiúrthóir Bainistíochta, comhalta Boird agus Ceannaire an Chuimsiú agus na hÉagsúlachta ag Accenture International
• John Dardis |Uachtarán Chumann Ríoga Bhaile Átha Cliath
• Dan Flinter |Cathaoirleach bhoird PM Group Holdings, Graí agus Gairdíní Náisiúnta na hÉireann, The Irish Times agus VCIM Venture Capital
• Caroline Grant | Ceannaire AD
• An tOllamh Pat Guiry | Uachtarán Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann
• Margie McCarthy |Stiúrthóir Taighde agus Léargas an Bheartais, Údarás Fuinnimh Inmharthana na hÉireann.
• Terence McCrann | Idirghabhálaí, Aturnae agus Abhcóide Sinsearach
• Abigail O'Brien |Uachtarán an ARH, Ealaíontóir Comhaimseartha
• An Dr Ciarán O’Carroll | Léachtóir ag speisialú sa Fiontraíocht  agus sanInbhuanaitheacht in Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath
• John O'Doherty (Leaschathaoirleach) |Comhpháirtí bainistíochta le hAturnaetha KOD Lyons
• Hilary Hough | Leas-Uachtarán Chumann Ríoga Bhaile Átha Cliath
• Niamh O’Connor | Rúnaí an Bhoird

CRÍOCH

Teagmhálaí na meán:

Fiona Sexton (Cumarsáid, Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann): [email protected] | [email protected]

Nótaí le haghaidh Eagrathóirí:

Tá íomhánna  Adrian O’Carroll ar fáil ag an nasc seo a leanas. 

Maidir le Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann: 

Tá Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ar cheann de na hionaid is mó spéise do chuairteoirí sa tír ina bhfuil bailiúchán ealaín na hEorpa agus na hÉireann an náisiúin ó thart ar an mbliain 1300 go dtí an lá inniu, chomh maith leis an Leabharlann agus leis an gCartlann fhairsing aige, á choimeád ann. Tá cead isteach sa bhailiúchán saor in aisce chun taitneamh a bhaint as, chun foghlama agus chun spreagadh a fháil.

An bhliain 2024 ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann:

Is comóradh 160 bliain ar oscailt Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ar an 30 Eanáir 1864 í an bhliain 2024 agus is comóradh í ar 170 bliain ó bunaíodh an Gailearaí tríd an Acht um Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann (1854) ar an 10 Lúnasa 1854. Foilseoidh an Gailearaí plean straitéise nua don tréimhse 2024-28 sa bhliain 2024.

ISiad na taispeántais reatha atá á gcur i láthair ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ná:

• An Túr Gloine: Artists and the Collective (Seomra 11) – go dtí an 12 Eanáir 2025 (saorchead isteach)
• Silent City (Gailearaí Priontála) - go dtí an 21 Iúil 2024 (saorchead isteach)
• Vermeer Visits (Seomra 38, Sciathán Milton) – go dtí an 18 Lúnasa 2024 (saorchead isteach)
• Walter Frederick Osborne: The Guinness Portrait (Seomra Hugh Lane) – go dtí an 1 Meán Fómhair 2024 (saorchead isteach)
• Women Impressionists (Seomraí 6-10) - go dtí an 6 Deireadh Fómhair 2024 (ar thicéad)