Today we announced the appointment of four directors to join our board. They are Mark Bennett, Susan Cook, Patricia Kenny, and Séamus O’Grady.

Established in 2006, the Trust is now a leading national organisation with four landmark heritage properties in its care. These are 11 Parnell Square, Dublin, where we are headquartered; Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens, Cork; Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens, Wexford; and Strokestown Park & The National Famine Museum, Roscommon.

Latest Projects

In 2024, we commenced restoration works at the historic No. 11 Parnell Square to be completed in late 2025. This €5.2 million conservation-led refurbishment is funded by philanthropic support and the Project Ireland 2040 Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In partnership with ESB, we also announced plans last year for development of a new museum on Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin, for which planning permission has been received.

New Directors

Ger Aherne, Irish Heritage Trust Chairman, welcomed the newly appointed directors, saying: “The Irish Heritage Trust is delighted to welcome these four individuals as voluntary directors to our Board. This injection of added talent and extensive expertise in areas such as financial & risk management, climate strategy, governance, HR and strategic leadership brings additional benefit to the Trust as we implement our Strategic Plan 2023-33.

Our work in conservation, education, sustainability, and community engagement is greatly enhanced by the voluntary commitment of our Board members, and their exceptional experience contributes to achieving our strategic objectives. I would also like to express our deep gratitude to our outgoing directors who have completed their terms of office; Caroilin Callery and Mark Henry, for their valuable contributions and insights during their tenure.”

Mark Bennett

Mark Bennett has 25 years’ experience working internationally in the private, public and NGO sectors on environmental and business strategy. He is currently Senior Director of Climate Strategy and Decarbonisation at Goodbody Clearstream. He was previously a Director of Portal Innovation Hub at Trinity College, Country Manager in Talent Garden, founded an Internet of Things startup and led sustainability projects for Dublin City Council. Mark has completed traineeships in the Irish EPA, the US EPA and the European Commission. Mark holds a BA in Environmental Science from Trinity College, an MSc in International Management from King’s College London, a postgrad in Sustainable Energy Finance from Dublin City University and has completed the Artificial Intelligence Programme in Oxford University.

Susan Cook

Susan Cook (London, UK) brings over three decades of international financial expertise, having held senior roles within the P&O Group at the Head Office in London and later as CFO of Global Ship Lease, a US-listed container ship owning company. Her career includes structuring and delivering a wide range of financing projects and overseeing treasury strategies for the P&O Group, followed by a 12-year tenure as CFO of Global Ship Lease. Susan has been a key figure in the maritime industry, gaining recognition through her membership of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, where she currently serves on the Finance Committee.

Alongside her career as a finance executive, Susan has a deep passion for history and heritage and has been a long-term supporter of several charities. She served on the Campaign Board of Historic Royal Palaces for almost ten years and is an active patron of several heritage organisations, including Historic Royal Palaces, Landmark Trust plus Brooklands Museum, where she has also acted in an advisory capacity. Susan holds a BSc from Brunel University, an MSc from Oxford University, and is a Chartered Management Accountant and member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.

Patricia Kenny

Patricia Kenny brings over 20 years of executive experience in human resources, organisational change & transformation, strategic planning, and corporate governance across the public, private, and semi-state sectors. As Global Chief People Officer and Executive Director at Aer Rianta International, Patricia played a key role in driving transformation, operational excellence, and diversity initiatives across the organisation’s global footprint. Her extensive career includes senior HR leadership roles, such as Chief People Officer at the Central Bank of Ireland and HR Director positions at Paddy Power, McCann FitzGerald, Deutsche Bank, and as Vice President HR at Citigroup. With experience spanning Ireland, the UK, the US, and Canada, Patricia has a proven ability to align business strategy with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities, ensuring impactful and sustainable outcomes.

Séamus O’Grady

Séamus O’Grady, originally from County Roscommon and now living in Cork, brings over three decades of international experience in governance, risk management, and strategic leadership to the Irish Heritage Trust. He served as Irish Ambassador to Malawi, Zambia, and Namibia, where he oversaw political relations, multi-million-euro aid programmes, and governance frameworks as well as promoting Ireland and its culture and heritage internationally. Prior to his diplomatic career, Séamus worked as a Chartered Accountant and led a consultancy business specialising in financial management, project evaluation, and investment analysis across Africa, Central Asia, and Europe.

Read more about the Directors of the Irish Heritage Trust.