The Linenhall currently has a core staff of five. We also have wonderful coffee-shop and cleaning staff, and currently four part-time Arts Facilitators who are employed on a FÁS-funded Community Employment Scheme. No member of Linenhall staff earns in excess of €45,000 per annum.
Meet the Staff
Marie Farrell is the Director and she has worked here since 1986. Her qualifications in Microbiology and Biochemistry have proved invaluable to her in her pursuit of the excellent in arts programming. Contact Marie here.
Maura Connolly joined the team in 1990. She has now reached the lofty heights of Administrator, and foolishly insists that she still enjoys working here. Contact Maura here.
Oisín Herraghty is our dynamic Technical Manager. His experience in theatre/stagecraft makes him the ideal addition to our diverse, dedicated and doughty crew. Contact Oisin here.
Ian Wieczorek is our PR Officer. A man of many parts (some of which he claims still work quite well) and a successful visual artist in his own right, he's the one responsible for getting the word out there. Contact Ian here.
Orla Henihan is our Arts Access Officer. Orla’s background is in music and she is instrumental (geddit!) in developing our arts access programme, encouraging everyone to give it a lash. She’s also responsible for programming RoolaBoola, our amazing
children’s Arts Festival. Contact Orla here.
Our friendly coffee-shop staff are waiting to meet and greet you. The coffee shop is open Monday to Friday from 10.00am – 5.30pm and on Saturday from 11.00am -- 5.30pm.
Nuriyah Nuriyah - or Ria to us - is our cleaner. She ensures that the place is sparkling for our visitors. If you’re here when she’s at work, watch out for her sunny smile.
Our Community ArtsTeam provides a range of visual arts workshops for children in the area, working mainly with Primary schools.
Linenhall Board
The Linenhall Arts Centre is a Company Limited by Guarantee, governed by a Board of Directors, who volunteer their time and expertise. Membership of the company is currently restricted to current and past board members. A committee is reviewing our membership structure with a view to broadening its base:
John Connolly: John is a consultant psychiatrist. He is secretary of the Irish Association of Suicidology and a long-time campaigner for suicide prevention. He is an active member of Mayo Mental Health Association. John joined the board in 1997.
Peter Duggan: Peter is currently Head of Finance with Mayo County Council. He is the County Manager’s nominee to the Linenhall Board and joined the Board in 2006.
Eanya Egan: Eanya is a practicing solicitor working in Castlebar. She was the first woman to be elected Mayor of Castlebar and held office as an independent Councillor. She is involved in many aspects of community and sings with the Church Choir. Eanya joined the Board in 1996.
Michael Kilcoyne: Michael was first elected to Castlebar Town Council in 1999 and served on the Town Council until it’s abolition in 2014. He is an elected member of Mayo County Council since 2009. He was an official of the ITGWU since 1979 and Sectoral Organiser with SIPTU. He is a member of the Advisory Council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation. He is Deputy Chairman of the Consumers’ Association of Ireland and is a member of the HSE West Forum. He is involved with many voluntary groups in the greater Castlebar area. Michael is the Mayo County Council elected representative nominated to the Board of the Linenhall and joined the Board in 2014.
Alice Maher: Alice is an internationally renowned visual artist who works in a wide range of media. She represented Ireland at the 23rd Sao Paolo Biennale. A mid-career retrospective of her work ‘Becoming’ was held in IMMA in 2012. Her book Reservoir (Dublin: Roads Publishing, 2014) has brought the collection of sketchbooks that she has created over many years to the public's attention for the first time. She is a member of Aosdana and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Art from the National University of Ireland. Alice joined the Board in 2010
Tim Mullen: Tim is a retired Local Government Official and small farmer. He has many years experience in financial management in the Public Service and served as Head of Finance with Mayo County Council. He has a BA in Philosophy and English literature. He also volunteers his time with the St. Vincent de Paul. Tim joined the Board in 1999.John Mulloy: John Mulloy is a lecturer in Art History and Critical theory at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. Recent work includes a chapter in Gary Granville (ed), Art Education and Contemporary Culture, (Intellect, London, 2012); Salvation through Art?, a research project examining art education in Portlaoise Prison (2009-12); and City (Re)Searches, exploring cultural rights in Cork, Derry, Kaunas and Rotterdam (2012-14). He is currently developing Stick, Brush & Eye, a workshop for signwriting, hand-lettering and letterpress projects.
Brendan O'Hara: Brendan is a retired Chartered Accountant. He works with a number of voluntary and not-for-profit groups in the area. Brendan joined the Board in 2015.
Ann O’Mahony: Ann has a background in research and teaching in the social-policy field for the Public and NGO sectors. She has a B.Soc.Sc Degree from University College Dublin, a post graduate Diploma from London University and a M.Sc from the University of Surrey. She is also a practicing artist, weaver and printmaker and has a National Diploma in Art and Design (Distinction). In 2011 she was awarded a PHD in the History of Art and Critical Theory by Galway Mayo Institute of Technology for her research-based thesis entitled 'In Search of A Language: Textile and Text in Contemporary Women's Art'. Ann Joined the Board in 1996
Ger Reidy: Ger has won several national poetry competitions and has been the recipient of a number of bursaries and residencies sponsored by the Arts Council and Mayo County Council. His third collection ‘Before Rain’ was published by Arlen House in December 2014. He works as an engineer with Mayo County Council and lives near Westport. Ger joined the Board in 2012.
