Old lady of Middle St. receives new inlaws with five new members having been appointed to an Taibhdhearc Board.
As an Taibhdhearc, the grand old lady of Middle St. celebrates her 90th birthday, five new Board members have been appointed to the National Irish Language Theatre.
For the first time the vacancies were publicly advertised and new members have been selected by an independent panel. In an effort to achieve a more national perspective, two people living outside Co. Galway have been appointed to the Board.
An arts practitioner involved in another arts organisation in Galway City has also been chosen. These were among recommendations in a report prepared for an Taibhdhearc by theatre consultant, Jane Daly in 2013.
There were no applications from Northern Ireland this time. The Board members offer their time free of charge and serve a period of six years while the Chairperson has a tenure of three years. The following are the new members:
Dr Siobhán Nic Fhlannchadha originally from Moycullen who works with the Irish Universities Association in Dublin. Siobhán works on the schemes HEAR & DARE, which provide access to higher education for disadvantaged students and people with disability. A former auditor of UCD Cumann Drámaíochta, Siobhán took part in some Taibhdhearc productions in her youth.
Óige Ó Céilleachar, from Maoil a’ Choirne in the Waterford Gaeltacht, he is now a teacher at Limerick’s Gaelcholáiste. He also teaches Irish in Mary Immaculate College and the University of Limerick, Óige has published a novel and shortstories. He has written and produced plays for Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh along with winning prizes for singing and songwriting.
Mairéad Ní Chualáin, An Cnoc, Indreabhán, Co. Galway is Artistic Director and founder of NoRopes Theatre Company in Galway city. Mairéad is at present artist in residence at Druid and has worked on Taibhdhearc productions, for example: Incubus by Caitríona Ní Chonaola, Gaeilgeoir Deireanach Charna by Breandán Ó hEaghra. Éistigí…Caithfear Éisteacht by Joe Steve Ó Neachtain. She has researched the development in the period 2003-2013 of drama through the medium of Irish in the West of Ireland.
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, born in Huddersfield, England, the NUIG commerce graduate is TG4’s Communications Manager. A former manager/artistic director of an Taibhdhearc and a founding member of Galway theatre company, Na Fánaithe, Trevor has directed Ros na Rún and Fair City. He spent years organising drama classes in schools throughout the country.
Orla King hails from na Doireadha, Baile na hAbhann, Conamara, she was invited to the Board because of her skills and expertise in the field of human resources. Orla has worked in this area at TG4 and Údarás na Gaeltachta. She has also spent time working with Telegael, Eo Teilifís adn Greasán na Meán/Skillsnet in an Spidéal.
Taibhdhearc Chairperson, Aodh Ó Coileáin, said:
“It is encouraging to see so many people showing interest in serving on the Theatre’s Board, evidence that the concept of a National Irish Language Theatre is important in the eyes of the public.
“This new energy and mixture of skills will really benefit the theatre as we plan and decide strategies for the future.
“We look forward next month to BAOITE, a new play by Darach Mac Con Iomaire which opens at the Galway International Arts Festival.”
