Board Members

Padhraic Hastings, Chair

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.

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

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 festivals. 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 from 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.

Dr. Michael Finneran

Dr Michael Finneran is Associate Professor of Drama at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick. His work focuses on applied theatre, arts practice, social justice, and creativity. He has numerous publications including Critical Themes in Drama: Social, Cultural and Political Analysis (Routledge, 2021) and several co-edited books. Michael has led initiatives including the development of the Lime Tree Theatre, chaired the boards of Dance Limerick and Branar, and was involved in the development of the new Leaving Cert in Drama, Film and Theatre. He was honoured on the DCU Alumni Wall in 2020 and appointed as Visiting Gilbert Fellow at the University of Sydney in 2021. Alongside teaching and research, Michael continues to work as a theatre director and lighting designer.