Our team includes category experts, strategic partners, and a dedicated, passionate group of employees and volunteers.
Our people are our greatest asset exemplifying our values in every interaction with colleagues, stakeholders and visitors. Through our Living The Values programme, we celebrate their contribution, dedication, and commitment and acknowledge those nominated by their peers for embodying our values.
The efforts of the Irish Heritage Trust staff, supporters and strategic partners are directed by our management team and voluntary board of trustees. Our shared mission is to preserve our heritage while creating sustainable benefits for local communities.
Directors of the Irish Heritage Trust
Ger Aherne – Chairman
Ger is a native of Cork City and has lived in Kiltoom in South Roscommon for many years. He is a retired Defence Forces Brigadier General having held strategic military appointments in Ireland, commanded national and international forces for the UN, EU and NATO on three continents, and was seconded by Ireland to the OSCE in Croatia. He has a B.A. and LL. M. from the University of Galway. He served two terms as an elected member of its Governing Authority and for many years on its Alumni Board.
A former board member of the business NGO Traidlinks, he is a member of both the Institute for International and European Affairs (IIEA) and the Institute of Directors (IOD). A lifelong member of the GAA, he has served on its committees at national, regional, county and club levels.
Anne O’Donoghue – CEO
Anne was appointed CEO of the Irish Heritage Trust in 2018 and leads a team of over 100 colleagues and 300 volunteers across properties in the Trust’s care at Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens, Cork; The National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, Roscommon; Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens, Wexford; and 11 Parnell Square, Dublin. She is Deputy Chair of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) and Chair of AVEA, the Association of Visitor Experiences and Attractions.
Prior to her current role, Anne held many executive and non-executive directorship roles, spanning both the public sector and commercial enterprises, across financial services, media, and renewable energy sectors, as well as in non-profits and cultural institutions.
Eoghan Lehane – Company Secretary
Eoghan holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree from UCC and has extensive experience of working in both the private and public sectors. He spent over 20 years with one of Ireland’s leading Consulting Engineering firms engaged in the design and construction of civil engineering infrastructural projects throughout Ireland. He joined the Commissioners of Irish Lights in 1999 where he held a senior management position as Operations & Property Manager responsible for the management of a critical national infrastructure of marine Aids to Navigation around the coast of Ireland and associated property portfolio, retiring as Acting Director of Coastal Operations in May 2022.
Eoghan is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of Engineers Ireland.
Mark Bennett
Mark 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 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 and advisor to several heritage organisations, including Brooklands Museum and The Landmark Trust, UK. 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.
Terri Cullinane
Terri graduated from UCC with a Degree in French & Psychology before moving to Paris for her first role in tourism with what is now Tourism Ireland, igniting her passion for selling Ireland as a destination to international markets and ultimately leading to her setting up her own destination and conference management company.
Recipient of the ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Events Industry’ award in July 2017, she is a former Chair of AIPCO (Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers) and former President of the ITOA (Irish Tour Operators Association). Terri holds a Diploma in Company Direction and is a member of the Institute of Directors of Ireland.
Avril Doyle
Avril Doyle was an MEP and leader of the Irish Delegation in Brussels from 1999 – 2009. As a member of the ENVI Committee, she was rapporteur of the European Parliament’s key legislation on climate change – the 2008 Emissions Trading Directive. She was also Vice President of the Delegation for relations with the Gulf States and Yemen as well as being a member of the Delegations for relations with China and with South Africa. Avril is a former Mayor of Wexford, Fine Gael TD, Senator and Minister of State.
She has a BSc. in Biochemistry from UCD; is a former President of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland and is an Associate member of the BVA (British Veterinary Association).
Liam Flynn
Liam is a native of Waterford and graduated from UCD and Cambridge University. He studied law before qualifying as a solicitor in England and Ireland. Liam has practiced law in Ireland, England, and Switzerland, including a seven-year term as Deputy General Counsel of the Bank for International Settlements, a global organisation that promotes regulatory co-operation. He is currently a partner with Mason Hayes & Curran LLP, a Dublin-based international law firm and co-head of its Financial Regulation practice.
His key skillsets include corporate governance, risk analysis and regulatory compliance and his experience covers the public and private sectors.
Niamh Ann Kelly
Niamh Ann is Head of Art and Visual Culture at TU Dublin School of Art and Design. She has worked in third level education and research for over two decades with a focus on interdisciplinary work and building sustainable links between research, learning and industry. Originally from Galway, she studied Fine Art Painting and History of Art at National College of Art and Design in Dublin, and later completed a PhD at the School for Cultural Analysis at the University of Amsterdam. At TU Dublin, she manages BA and MA programmes, and supervises post-graduate research on art, museums, and heritage and memorial practices.
Niamh Ann has served on the Board of The Irish Humanities Alliance as a TU Dublin representative for a decade. Her research work is published in a wide range of texts on history, histories of art, memory studies and visual culture.
Patricia Kenny
Patricia 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.
Tony Larkin
Tony Larkin retired in 2022 from his post as Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Services with Wexford County Council. He has more than 42 years’ experience in Local Government in Ireland and served for over 22 years in the Management Team of Wexford County Council. During that time, he managed at various times the Planning & Economic Development, Housing, Community, Culture, and Transportation functions. Tony has represented the local government sector on National, Regional and Local bodies and has considerable experience of corporate governance and strategic development.
Following study with the Institute of Public Administration Tony was awarded a B.A. (Public Administration). He undertook postgraduate studies with the Irish Management Institute and was awarded a MSc. (Mgmt.) in Organisation Behaviour by Trinity College Dublin. He received the Sir Charles Harvey Award for outstanding performance in business management postgraduate studies in 2002.
Victoria Mikulecz
Victoria is an experienced business leader, director and advisor working across various industry sectors. In a career spanning 25 years in the Financial Services Industry, Victoria held several key executive roles, principally with J.P. Morgan. She has extensive experience across a number of disciplines including business strategy, product and client development, and process and business re-engineering. More recently Victoria forayed into working with new start-ups and established businesses in the financial services, hospitality and technology sectors.
Victoria is currently living in New York with regional responsibility for Service Delivery for BNY Mellon.
Mairéad Ní Cheóinín
Mairéad is as Carna, Conamara, Co. na Gaillimhe ó dhúchas í Mairéad. Tá sí ag obair ag leibhéal sinsearach í gcursaí forbairt tráchtáil loingseoireacht idirnáisiúnta. Tá taithí fhairsing aici ar fhorbairt ghnó, mhargaíocht agus chumarsáid comh maith le thacaíocht charthanachta.
Tá taithí aici ar rialachas corparáideach agus ar straitéis tar éis di dhá théarma a chaitheamh mar ball den bhord TG4.
Mairéad is originally from Carna, Connemara, Co. Galway. She works at a senior level in the international maritime sector. She has extensive experience in business development, marketing and communications as well as charitable support.
Mairead has experience in corporate governance and strategy and served two terms as a board member of TG4.
Séamus O’Grady
Séamus, 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.
Christopher Ridgway
Dr. Christopher Ridgway has been curator at Castle Howard in Yorkshire, England, since 1985. He is Chair of the Yorkshire Country House Partnership and has served on a number of boards in the UK. These include the Attingham Trust, the National Trust for Scotland, the Institute for Historical Research, and the Lord Chancellor’s Forum on Historical Manuscripts.
Christopher lectures and publishes widely on country houses and estates. He is also Adjunct Professor at the Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses and Estates at Maynooth University.
Susie Tinsley
Susie Tinsley was a Trustee of the Kensington & Chelsea Foundation (London) from 2012 – 2015, where she was successful in developing community partnerships and raising the Foundation’s profile. She has extensive experience in fundraising for a variety of organisations across charitable and arts sectors in Ireland the UK and USA having supported the work of Ashoka, the Royal Academy of Arts and St. Cuthbert’s Day Centre and the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Susie also brings a wealth of experience in developing campaigns and high profile events across these sectors. She has a lifelong passion for art, literature and history.
Our Irish Heritage Trust Management Team
John O’Driscoll – General Manager
The National Famine Museum | Strokestown Park, Roscommon
John joined the Strokestown Park team in 1998 where he had responsibility for the ongoing restoration of the Walled Gardens. He has played a key part in further restoration projects – the Gentleman’s Study/Darkroom, the Family Mausoleum, the Courtyard and Woodlands. John is now working to continue to bring Strokestown Park and the National Famine Museum to life for future generations.
Bryan Murphy – General Manager
Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens, Cork
Bryan Murphy joined the Irish Heritage Trust team at Fota House in 2019. He has extensive experience in Business Development, Sales & Marketing and Operational roles in the Events, Sport, Logistics and Beverage sectors. Following 10 years as Operations Manager with Munster Rugby, Bryan has focused on Event Management including the Pendulum Summit and The Blackwater Valley Opera Festival.
Matt Wheeler – General Manager
Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens, Wexford
Matt has worked in the museum and heritage sector in UK and Ireland as a Curator and Manager for over 30 years. He came to Johnstown in 2011 to manage the Irish Agricultural Museum and since then has overseen the opening and redevelopment of Johnstown Castle in recent years.
