Catherine Martin
Catherine Martin is an Irish politician who served as Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media from 2020 to 2024. During her tenure, she oversaw significant increases in funding for the arts, which garnered her popularity within the sector. However, her management of governance issues at RTÉ drew criticism, leading to questions about her effectiveness in the role.
Not in the pool (under ¢1).
Recent news mentions
Catherine Martin was replaced as minister for culture in January by Patrick O’Donovan of Fine Gael.
Arts Council’s IT crisis, RTÉ’s financial strain and Trump’s assault on the BBC – The Irish Times
Ireland· 2025-12-20
Catherine Martin reversed Shane Ross's decisions regarding women's roles in Irish sport.
Shane Ross set women in Irish sport back ‘about 20 years’, says Patrick O’Donovan – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-12-20
Catherine Martin was the arts minister who launched the Music Industry Stimulus Package during the pandemic.
Artists and musicians are constantly hustling. They need more State support – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-12-02
Catherine Martin is the previous minister who secured significant increases in arts funding.
These three Ministers are doing something welcome – making enemies – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-11-29
Catherine Martin is an Oscar-winning designer who previously owned the Iona mansion with Baz Luhrmann.
BridgeClimb founder Paul Cave selling Pearl Beach for about $9m
Australia· 2025-11-14
Catherine Martin is an Oscar-winning costume and production designer who emphasizes the importance of storytelling in design.
Catherine Martin and other top experts on why drama needs a storyAustralia· 2025-11-09
Catherine Martin, the former minister of Arts and Media, supported increasing the salary for the head of RTÉ.
RTÉ could increase director general pay by €50,000 under new pay structures – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-09-25The former home of Oscar-winning couple Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin has sold for $37.5 million.
PayPal Australia boss sells at Tamarama, plus properties at Vaucluse, Mosman and Iona at DarlinghurstAustralia· 2025-09-19
Catherine Martin was the previous minister for the Gaeltacht, arts and media.
‘When TG4 was established, people said this is a waste of money’ – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-09-12
Oscar-winning couple Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin once owned the mansion Iona.
Near-$100m of trophy homes for sale in Vaucluse and Point PiperAustralia· 2025-09-06
Catherine Martin established a group to advise the Government on how to deal with culturally sensitive items in Irish collections.
Plan to withdraw colonial artefacts from National Museum of Ireland stalls – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-09-01
Catherine Martin participated as a high-profile judge at Tropfest.
Film festival returns to Sydney’s Centennial Park after 5-year hiatusAustralia· 2025-09-01
The then arts minister Catherine Martin attended the 2024 festival as a representative for the Irish government.
Taoiseach’s trip to SXSW festival planned after controversial sponsors dropped, department says – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-08-26
Catherine Martin was the then minister for media who received a request from Virgin Media for funding.
RTÉ €725m funding could ‘distort’ media market, Irish Independent publisher warns Minister – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-08-09
Catherine Martin was strong on arts and culture but not on communications and sport.
How has the Cabinet performed in its first six months? – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-08-03
Catherine Martin argued that the online safety code represented a big step forward in online safety.
Ireland’s online safety code can continue but further legal challenges likely over regulation – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-07-29
Catherine Martin is collaborating with Baz Luhrmann on the film adaptation of Tom Keneally's novel.
Baz Luhrmann and Tom KeneallyAustralia· 2025-07-04
Catherine Martin was the previous Minister for Culture before Patrick O’Donovan.
‘The Minister saw the opportunity for a scalp. I was an easy target’ – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-06-28
Catherine Martin announced the introduction of a Basic Income for the Arts scheme.
How Ireland’s landmark €325-a-week arts scheme changed my life – I’ve never taken it for granted – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-06-21
It soon emerged that his predecessor, Catherine Martin, was aware of the matter since summer last year.
Patrick O’Donovan admonished for bringing ‘substantial’ issues to Cabinet without telling colleagues – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-06-20
Catherine Martin backed increasing the pay rate for the head of RTÉ, Kevin Bakhurst.
What do they earn and should they be paid more? – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-06-13
Catherine Martin, four-time Oscar winner for costume and production design, was made a Companion.
Scott Morrison, scientists and costume designer feature in awardsAustralia· 2025-06-08
Catherine Martin, the then Minister for Media, stated that the online safety code represented a big step forward in online safety.
Challenge by X to Irish media regulator’s online safety rules set to begin this week – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-06-03
The scheme was introduced on a pilot basis by the Minister’s predecessor, Catherine Martin, in October 2022.
keep it going – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-05-28Catherine Martin’s arts department backed increasing the pay rate for the head of RTÉ.
Catherine Martin’s arts department backed pay rise for RTÉ director general – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-05-19
Catherine Martin challenged Eamon Ryan in the leadership contest.
Housing tsar row brings a strike-out before the first innings – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-05-02
Catherine Martin is noted for her support of a proposal to replace the licence fee with government funding.
Is RTÉ really in a worse position than any other media company? – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-04-28
Catherine Martin was the last Media minister who was seen as sympathetic to RTÉ's vision of public service broadcasting.
tough challenges ahead – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-04-24
Catherine Martin was aware last summer of the Arts Council IT project that was abandoned at a loss of about €5.3 million.
Documents prepared for Minister last summer revealed depth of botched Arts Council IT project – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-04-18
Catherine Martin was the previous minister for Media who advanced plans to introduce an Irish levy.
what is the Minister’s plan? – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-04-07