Board Members
Mike Finn, Chair
Mike is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and actor whose plays are Pigtown, The Quiet Moment, The Crunch, Shock & Awe, Ellis Island, We Are What We Witness, The Revenger’s Tragedy, Porkville, The Unlucky Cabin Boy and Bread Mot Profits. For television, Mike has co-written extensively with Pat Shortt including forty episodes of the IFTA nominated Killinaskully and seven episodes of Mattie - all for RTE. His film script Second Chance, was shortlisted for the Irish Film Board’s ‘Catalyst’ award. Radio drama includes It’s A Worthless Life for RTE Radio and Little Bits Left Over for Limerick 95FM.
Eugene Hayes, Company Secretary
Eugene Hayes ACIS, BFS (NUI) QFA LIB is the founder and Managing Director of Midwest Corporate Services Limited. He previously worked with Ulster Bank Ireland Limited and is the founder and managing director of Midwest Corporate Services Limited. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, a member of the Institute of Directors in Ireland, an accredited Mediator with Mediation Forum Ireland, a member of the Irish Corporate Law Forum, a member of the Irish Company Secretaries Group and a member of Limerick Chamber of Commerce. He holds a Financial Services Degree from UCD and is through a sister company – Irish Mortgage & Insurance Brokers Alliance Limited which is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland to operate as a mortgage broker and multi-agency insurance intermediary
Karen O’Donnell-O’Connor
Karen has worked in the community and voluntary sector for twenty years, including community arts work. She has significant experience in civic engagement, strategic planning and facilitating the development & growth of community capital. She is currently the Director of Rape Crisis Mid West.
Padhraic Hastings
Padhraic Hastings has been an active member of Limerick’s amateur theatre and musical community for many years. He is Vice-Chairman of College Players with whom he has performed in The Weir, The Lonesome West, Juno and the Paycock and Seafarer to name a few. Padhraic had a forty-year career working in in the insurance sector and held the position of Managing Director of Coyle Hamilton, Limerick until 2007.
Renata McDonnell
Renata has worked as an administrator in the non-profit sector for over 20 years where she developed her skills in planning and delivering strategic change. She has gained extensive experience of grant administration, relationship management and communications in theatre and the broader arts, working in London and Dublin across a diverse range of companies. Renata holds an MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy from Goldsmiths College, University of London as well as an MA in Drama Studies and History of Art & Architecture
Liam McCarthy
Liam is a playwright and producer from Limerick. He is an Arts Council Next Generation Artist for 2023/2024. Liam was previously playwright in residence at Belltable, Limerick and is currently artist in residence at Mary Immaculate College. He is programme curator of the Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival at the Lime Tree Theatre | Belltable and has previously worked with The Ark Children’s Cultural Centre, Dublin. Liam’s play for younger audiences “Fergal” was supported by the Arts Council, Branar’s Meitheal initiative and the Irish Theatre Forum’s MAKE programme and debuted at the Belltable in October 2022. His play “Mam and Love and Woo” was awarded the Wilde Irish Writer Award from Dublin Fringe Festival in 2020. Liam studied Drama and English at Trinity College, Dublin and at UC Berkeley, California.
Monica Spencer
Monica Spencer has worked in the arts across a range of organisations in Limerick and Cork for over thirty years. For most of her career she has engaged with community groups delivering programmes in theatre, visual art, music and festival. Her experience spans festival and venue management, capital development, production management and fundraising. She works full-time as Coordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership based at Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board where she has also has also worked as a community based tutor for many years.
Aisling Lohan
Originally form Galway, Aisling spent over ten years working in the private sector in the UK gaining skills in business management across finance, strategic planning and HR. Returning to Ireland in 2016, she joined the team at Southill Hub as Assistant Manager with responsibility for finance, fundraising, social enterprise and business development. She is an active member of Social Enterprise Limerick where she engages with member organisations on collaborative programmes across arts and community initiatives.
Mary-Ellen Cotter
Mary Ellen is a marketing professional with 10+ years’ experience in performance marketing, strategy and management. Having begun her career in London, Mary Ellen now works within the tech sector in Dublin as a Senior Client Manager. Growing up in County Limerick she was actively involved in theatre throughout her youth, both attending and performing at Friar’s Gate in Kilmallock. She holds a degree in Commerce and French from UCD Quinn School of Business, along with an MBA from UCD Smurfit Graduate Business School.