The Everyman Appoints Eight New Board Members

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Joining the Board are Gary Beestone, Shane Clarke, Colm Crowley, Catriona Hogan, Carol McNamara, Catherine O'Leary, Barbara-Anne Richardson and Laura Simpson.

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The Everyman is delighted to announce the appointment of eight new members to its Board of Directors following a recent public recruitment process.

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Joining the Board are Gary Beestone, Shane Clarke, Colm Crowley, Catriona Hogan, Carol McNamara, Catherine O'Leary, Barbara-Anne Richardson and Laura Simpson, who bring with them a broad range of expertise and experience spanning business, governance, finance, culture, public engagement and community development.

Pictured are some of the newly appointed board members who recently attended a rehearsal of Pool (No Water), directed by Everyman Artistic Director and Co-CEO Des Kennedy. The Everyman Made production, presented in association with Cork Midsummer Festival and The Metropole Hotel, previews from Friday, 12 June.

The Everyman also wishes to extend its sincere thanks to outgoing board members Breda Cashe, Cian Cotter, Aaron Mansworth and Sinéad McKenna, whose terms conclude in June 2026. Their commitment, guidance, and support have played an important role in the organisation's continued development and success.

A particular word of thanks is extended to Breda Cashe, who recently served as Interim Chair, providing valuable leadership and stewardship during a significant period for the organisation.

The appointments come at an exciting time for The Everyman. As one of Cork's oldest most historic venues prepares to celebrate its 130th anniversary on MacCurtain Street in 2027, and with the publication of a new organisational strategy planned for later this year, The Everyman is looking forward to an ambitious new chapter of artistic, organisational and audience development.

Gary Beestone is a Tony Award-winning Technical Director and Olivier Award-winning Producer. He is Project Director for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, and International Technical Director for Stranger Things: The First Shadow and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Gary was recently Technical Director for Eurovision in Liverpool and Producer of the Commonwealth Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies in Birmingham.

Shane Clarke has over 25 years of success in urban management, the cultural sector, place making and corporate governance. He is the founder and CEO of Garden City Culture and a Non-Exec Director at One Nexus. Previously CEO at the VQ and Nano Nagle Place

Jim Corbett has been a board level director of major public private and voluntary organisations in Britain and Ireland and is member of the board of The Everyman.

He recently retired after almost 20 years as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive of the Mercy University Hospital Cork. He is a local Scout Leader with over 40-year experience and has received several National Scouting Merit Awards in Britain and Ireland.

In addition to his extensive professional experience Jim is also a celebrated commentator, columnist, photographer, film maker and author, receiving a number of honorary awards for his work. In particular he has written and contributed to several pantomimes including West End productions.

Jim is married to Rosario and they have lived in Cork since 2001, they have four children and three grandchildren. He has been a volunteer at The Everyman for several years.

Colm Crowley is Head of RTÉ Cork and Head of Regional Commissioning and Development, where he leads RTÉ’s work to grow regional production and support new and emerging talent. A former BBC and ITV producer/director, he oversees more than 350 hours of original broadcasting each year and is Managing Editor of Today on RTÉ One. His work includes acclaimed series such as The Hunger (narrated by Liam Neeson), The Irish Revolution (Cillian Murphy) and The Irish Civil War (Brendan Gleeson), as well as The Cable That Changed the World, featuring Jessie Buckley.

Deeply connected to Cork’s creative life, Colm is delighted to join the Board of The Everyman and looks forward to supporting the theatre’s continued success at the heart of the city’s cultural community.

Conor Hanratty is a theatre and opera director from Dublin. He trained with Rough Magic’s SEEDS programme and at UCLA, and spent two years in Tokyo studying with the director Ninagawa Yukio. Recent productions include Persians | The Podcast – Unplugged at the Peacock Theatre, I Capuleti e I Montecchi for Wexford Opera Festival, and tours of both King Lear and Romeo and Juliet for Festival in a Van. During the pandemic he directed Ghost Apples, a new film for Irish National Opera with music by Irene Buckley and words by Jessica Traynor, completed The Hamlet Podcast and wrote War Paint, a short film made within Fishamble’s 24/7 project.

In addition to being a lecturer on several of the degree programmes at MTU CSM for the past 8 years, David Hayes is a professional freelance musician with now 45 years’ experience. Having originally studied Piano, Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Chamber Music, Orchestra, Choir, Theory and Harmony at the Royal Irish Academy of Music for over 18 years before plunging into a busy career that to date has included work as Musical Director, Music Supervisor, Orchestrator, Keyboard player and Producer in Theatre, Radio, Music Tech, TV and Studio.

He spent over 3 years with Riverdance – The Show as Musical Director and subsequently Production Director, with responsibility for the artistic well-being of all three touring productions worldwide. In addition, he produced the soundtrack for the multi-million selling DVD Riverdance – Live at Radio City Music Hall N.Y.

Recording credits include work with Irish luminaries such as Donal Lunny, Davy Spillane, Sinead O’Connor, Phil Coulter, Brian Kennedy, Declan Masterson, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, Sharon Shannon, Brendan Power, Liam O Connor, Noel Eccles, Tommy Fleming, Gavin James, Danny O’Reilly, Ryan Sheridan, Paul Walsh (Royseven) and Bressie.

He has also been engaged by international stars such as Josh Groban, Gary Barlow, Paul Potts and Frankie Valli for their Irish tours, in addition to production work for two ProdiJIG productions/tours (Footstorm and Revolution).

David is a multi-award-winning MD in Musical Theatre and has performed that role in every major theatre in the country. He has additionally scored orchestrations for nine original musical productions – the latest being Find Your Way Home which premiered at Symphony Hall, NYC, in July 2017.

He has worked in Cork for over 20 years including so many productions at Cork Opera House, providing orchestrations for the National Titanic Centenary Celebrations at Cobh and also with GoldenBoy Productions Ltd and their fabulous production of Singin’ in The Rain here at The Everyman.

2021 provided rather unprecedented platforms for David including being MD for both West Side Story in Concert at Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin and the critically acclaimed Angela’s Ashes – Musical live broadcast from Olympia Theatre, Dublin to the Irish Repertory Theatre Company, NYC and ….. a life’s work coming to fruition with him conducting the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in A Night attThe Musicals at the NCH on 25 November 2021.

Finally, David was beyond delighted to be part of Ireland’s inaugural Sondheim Festival in Kilkenny in July 2022 and to perform the closing concert with stage legend Ms. Liz Callaway!

Owner and Principal Consultant of CH Consulting, Catriona provides professional advice and training to Boards of trustees and staff in the charity and not for profit sector in Ireland. Her areas of expertise include compliance, regulation, best practice and strategic direction. She has worked with organisations ranging from state bodies philanthropic foundations and registered charities. Her wealth of experience over the last 25 years based on senior management positions including CEO roles gives her a unique and in-depth knowledge of the vital work of the third sector

Cllr Peter Horgan was first elected to Cork City Council in June 2024 and represents the South-East Ward for the Labour Party. He is a former college actor, producer and director in UCC Dramat while he studied BSc in Government from 2006 to 2010. With a Masters in Journalism from NUIG, he worked as a journalist for the Munster Express and the Cork Independent before working for Minister Seán Sherlock in the Departments of Education, Enterprise and Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2016. He worked as a parliamentary adviser for Seán Sherlock TD from 2016 to 2024.

As well as serving on the Board of The Everyman, he is a member of the Board of Visit Cork, is Chair of the City Council Transport and Mobility Strategic Policy Committee and is a member of the HSE Regional Health Forum.

Peter is married to Celine and has three sons Charlie, Theo and Lúi.

Carol Mc Namara, Head of HR at The Imperial Hotel. Previously People Director/ Interim CPO at Version 1 and Chief of Staff at Microsoft EMEA HR. Native of Kinsale, working mother of two and Irish-German bilingual family. Loves choir, theatre and swimming.

Social Democrats Councillor for Cork City South Central.

A Cork native, Catherine is currently Head of the Centre of Specialisation in AIB Business Banking Capital Markets. Catherine has worked in Banking for the last 20+ years, primarily in Risk roles across both Ulster Bank and AIB. Catherine has a passion for people, transformation and eliminating complexity at every opportunity.

Barbara-Anne Richardson is Sustainability and Public Affairs Manager, Heineken Ireland. Previously Cork Chamber.

Laura Simpson is a Special Projects manager at Prosys Technology.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/ireland/article/The-Everyman-Welcomes-New-Board-Members-20260612)._