Minister Martin announces appointment of new member to the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland
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From: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
- Published on: 10 October 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
Minister Martin announces appointment of new member to the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, has announced the appointment of Dr Martina Byrne to the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland. The appointment is for a five year term with effect from 25th September 2024.
Dr Martina Byrne is the Chief Executive of both the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) and the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA). She has over two decades experience in public relations and academia and has a proven track record in setting up diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives.
Minister Martin said:
“I am very pleased to appoint Dr. Martina Byrne to the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland. She has already contributed to development of the Gallery as a member of its Audience Committee, and brings her considerable skill and experience to the role. I am sure that she will be a valued member of the Board and will contribute significantly to the effective oversight of the Gallery during her term.”
Two existing members of the Board, Dan Flinter and John O’Doherty (Vice Chair), have been re-appointed for a further two years with effect from 19th September 2024.
The Minister continued:
“I wish to thank Dan Flinter and John O’Doherty for their service on the Board over their first terms and I am pleased to renew their Board membership. I am sure that they will both continue to provide strong and effective leadership and guidance as members of the Board and I wish them continued success in this important role.”
The Chairman of the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland, Mr. Adrian O’Carroll, said:
“On behalf of the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland, I am pleased to welcome the appointment of Dr Martina Byrne, and the renewed appointment of Mr. Dan Flinter and Mr. John O’Doherty (Vice Chair), to the Board. The Gallery recently published a new Strategic Plan for the period 2024-28, and these appointments will help ensure the Gallery continues to evolve to best serve its collections and audiences into the future. I look forward to working closely with Martina, Dan and John. I would also like to thank Minister Martin and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for their ongoing support”
The Board of the Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland (NGI) was established under the National Gallery of Ireland Acts 1854-1855. The Board comprises up to seventeen members, of which ten are appointed by the Minister, five of which are ex-officio holders, and two being nominated and appointed by the Royal Hibernian Academy under a power assigned to that organisation in the 1854 Act.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Dr Martina Byrne is the Chief Executive of both the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) and the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA). She has over two decades experience in public relations and academia and has a proven track record in setting up diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives. Dr. Byrne holds an honours degree in Communications Studies from Dublin City University, and both a Master and Doctorate of Philosophy Degree from Trinity College Dublin. She was a member of the Audience Committee of the National Gallery of Ireland since 2019, a sub-Committee of the Board of Governors & Guardians, contributing to promoting art and culture to a broader, diverse and inclusive audience.
Mr Dan Flinter is the Chairman of the National Stud and Gardens. He was previously the Chairman of the boards of PM Group Holdings, The Irish Times and VCIM Venture Capital. He was also a non-executive director of Aryzta AG and Dairygold Co-Operative and is the former CEO of Enterprise Ireland and an executive director of IDA Ireland. Mr Flinter holds an MA in Economics from UCD and is an Eisenhower Fellow.
Mr John O’Doherty is the vice-chair of the NGI’s Board of Governors and Guardians. He is a managing partner of KOD Lyons Solicitors, an award-winning human rights practice. He is the former Chair of the Criminal Law Committee of the Law Society, and is the sole Irish representative of the Criminal Law Committee of the European Council of Bars and Law Societies. He is a graduate of Business, Economics and Social Studies at Trinity College Dublin and qualified as solicitor in 1997. He also holds a diploma in Financial Services Law from UCD.
The Board of the Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland
The Board of the Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland (NGI) was established under the National Gallery of Ireland Acts 1854-1855. The Board comprises up to seventeen members, of which ten are appointed by the Minister, five of which are ex-officio holders of the offices listed below, and two being nominated and appointed by the Royal Hibernian Academy pursuant to a power bestowed on them in the 1854 Act.
Current members of the Board of the National Gallery of Ireland are:
Minister’s Nominees:
- Adrian O’Carroll (Chair)
- John O’Doherty (Vice-chair)
- Dan Flinter
- Dr Sandra Collins
- Dr Michelle D Cullen
- Margie McCarthy
- Dr Ciarán O’Carroll
- Terence McCrann
- Caroline Grant
- Martina Byrne
Ex-Officio Members:
- John Conlon Chairperson, Office of Public Works
- John Dardis President, Royal Dublin Society
- Hilary Hough Vice-president, Royal Dublin Society
- Prof Pat Guiry President, Royal Irish Academy
- Dr Abigail O’Brien President, Royal Hibernian Academy
Royal Hibernian Academy Appointees:
- Gary Coyle
- Diana Copperwhite