Our Board

Niamh Lunny

Chairperson

Niamh joined the board in August 2019. She previously served on the Board of the Abbey Theatre for 4 years and was a member of the Gender Equality sub-committee. She worked as the head of costume in the Abbey for 11 years, where she started a successful hire business.

Outside of this she has worked extensively as a freelance designer. She was the recipient of the Clore Leadership Scholarship in 2018/19 and is now working as a producer on the Púca Festival.

Edward Cahill

Ed Cahill is a local publican, with a passion for culture and the arts. Ed holds a Masters in Development Practice from TCD & UCD. He previously sat on the board of UCD Volunteers Overseas and currently sits on the Waterford Cultural Quarter Steering Committee in addition to the CAF board.

Chris Chapman

Chris joined the board in July of 2014, his main focus being strategic development. His background is in community development and he has worked in the fields of Social Care, Education, and Sustainability.

Fiona Dowling

Fiona Dowling is a native of Graiguecullen, Carlow. She qualified as an Accounting Technician through Carlow Institute of Technology and thereafter as a Certified Public Accountant through Griffith College Dublin. She has over 25 years experience working in business and finance in various roles and sectors including practice, industry & the charitable sector. She joined the board in 2023.

Formerly, a business owner in the tourism sector, Fiona now runs a company in the private homecare sector and strives to make a difference in people’s lives.

Fiona has a keen interest in the arts and is a member of Carlow’s Slapdash Theatre and loves nothing more than being on stage in Visual.

Colm Hanley

Colm is a marketing and communications professional with over 17 years of experience, specialising in live events and entertainment. He joined the board in 2023.

During 10 years with MCD Productions, Colm led campaigns for some of the world’s biggest stars performing in Ireland at venues including Croke Park, Slane Castle and 3Arena.

In 2016, Colm joined Murray Consultants as Senior Consultant working across premium brand clients. He helped launch Three’s sponsorship of 3Olympia Theatre, Ulster Bank's sponsorship of the AIL Rugby league and Audi’s sponsorship of the Dublin International Film Festival. In 2020, he was promoted to Account Director as Murray's consumer division restructured to creative marketing agency, Sweartaker. Now an Associate Director, Colm continues to handle a varied portfolio of clients.

Colm also manages talented songwriter Laura Elizabeth Hughes and volunteered with 103.2 Dublin City FM for 17 years as a presenter and producer promoting Irish music and bands. He's also had stints with Spin 1038 as producer and with FM104 as a swing presenter.

Cian Kinsella

Cian is a contemporary circus performer using skills such as acrobatics and clowning to create experiences to entertain, provoke & amuse audiences. His work explores environmental advocacy, ecology of culture, queer identity, and play as a creative strategy

Roisin Lawlor

Company Secretary

Roisín joined the Board in 2021. She is a Carlow native and has always supported the arts in the local community. She works in the area of company law and corporate governance, specialising in new companies.

Dan McInerney

Dan joined the board in late 2020. Originally from Ashbourne in Co. Meath, Dan moved his family to Carlow in 1985 to work as an Engineer with Carlow County Council. After a long career at various levels of Local Government, he retired as Director of Services with Carlow County Council at the end of 2019.

As well as the experience and skills that Dan brings to the Board from his Local Government career, he has been a dedicated supporter of the arts in Carlow going right back to the early days of the Éigse Festival. He has a great love of all types of music, is an ardent supporter of the Carlow music scene, and has recorded a large number of songs on the local, ‘lock-down’ inspired, ‘BACKLINE’ Facebook page.

Fintan Phelan

Fintan joined the board in September 2019. Fintan is the current Mayor of Carlow and served as Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council in 2021/22. He has a first-class honours degree in Economics Politics and Law from Dublin City University.