Maureen Kennelly
Maureen Kennelly is the director of the Arts Council of Ireland, having been appointed in March 2020. Under her leadership, the council has dealt with significant challenges, including the abandonment of a multimillion-euro IT system project, prompting investigations into governance and management practices within the organization.
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Recent news mentions
Maureen Kennelly, the council’s director, was refused an extension to her contract amid a scandal about an IT-modernisation project.
Arts Council’s IT crisis, RTÉ’s financial strain and Trump’s assault on the BBC – The Irish Times
Ireland· 2025-12-20
Former Arts Council director Maureen Kennelly stated, 'The Minister saw the opportunity for a scalp. I was an easy target.'
Arts Council chair vows to ‘rigorously’ pursue necessary reforms after botched IT project – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-11-21
Maureen Kennelly is settling into her new job as chief executive of the Druid Theatre Company in Galway.
Irish crown jewels were never found and culprits never caught – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-10-26
Maureen Kennelly is the director of the Arts Council who was denied a new contract by Patrick O'Donovan.
How has the Cabinet performed in its first six months? – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-08-03
Maureen Kennelly left her role as director of the Arts Council this month, speaking about the organisation’s disastrous IT project.
‘The Minister saw the opportunity for a scalp. I was an easy target’ – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-06-28
The Arts Council has said that its former chair Maureen Kennelly declared a conflict of interest in 2023 when a publisher that released a book of short stories authored by her husband successfully applied for an €80,000 grant from the State agency.
Arts Council was stopped three times from spending money on outside partners after botched IT project – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-06-21
Maureen Kennelly was not appointed for a further five-year term as director of the Arts Council.
Smacc, Cacs, Scam and – my favourite – DoSac – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-06-14
Maureen Kennelly was blocked from a full second term as head of the Arts Council.
Hungry goats divide Killiney as firefighting grazers move in again – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-06-08
Maureen Kennelly, director of the Arts Council, expressed regret over the failure of the IT project.
Arts Council has begun ‘legal proceedings’ against contractors over botched €6.7m IT project, PAC told – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-05-29
Maureen Kennelly has announced her intention to resign as director of the Arts Council next month.
Arts Council director Maureen Kennelly to stand down in wake of botched IT contract – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-05-28Arts Council director Maureen Kennelly was in attendance at the funeral.
Paul Durcan remembered as ‘Ireland’s poet’ at funeral service in Ringsend – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-05-22
Maureen Kennelly, director of the Arts Council, congratulated Michael Gallen on his award.
Irish composer Michael Gallen wins €100,000 award for new opera – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-04-26
Maureen Kennelly met with Minister O’Donovan to discuss the Arts Council IT project.
Documents prepared for Minister last summer revealed depth of botched Arts Council IT project – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-04-18Maureen Kennelly is the head of the Arts Council and speaks about the festival's impact.
‘There is a sense of an Irish writing culture exploding around the world’ – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-04-06
Maureen Kennelly is director of the Arts Council and speaks to the immeasurable influence of Jennifer Johnston.
President leads tributes to author – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-02-26
Maureen Kennelly arrived into the Arts Council at about the same time as the chair Kevin Rafter.
Who’s who in the controversy over Arts Council spending – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-02-14
Maureen Kennelly was appointed as council director in March 2020 and is part of the senior management being scrutinized.
Arts Council demands high standards of cultural organisations. It failed to meet them itself – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-02-12