Hawk’s Well Theatre Board of Directors –

First name / Surname / Appointing body / Area of expertise / Commencement Date
Roddy / Quinn / Arts Council / Amateur Drama & Chairing experience / 01/2018
Chairperson
Martha / Kearns / Arts Council / PR / 09/2014
Gerry / Moore / Fáilte Ireland / Tourism / 04/2013
Sinéad / Maguire / Sligo County Council / Legal / 06/2014
Declan / Bree / Sligo County Council / Local Politics / 06/2014

Biographies:

Cllr. Declan Bree – is an independent, Irish politician and political activist who has represented the people of Sligo and Leitrim for over four decades. As a committed socialist he has consistently used his position as a community activist and as an elected representative to serve the interests of ordinary people. He was first elected to Sligo County Council in 1974 and has retained his seat at each subsequent election, topping the poll in the most recent Local Election (May 2014) He has served at many levels of politics; local, regional and national. He is the President of the Connolly Forum (Sligo). He is the Chairperson of the Sligo branch of the United Left and of People First. He is Secretary of the Gralton Labour History Committee (Leitrim).He is a patron of the People’s Movement - Gluaiseacht an Phobail. He is a member of SIPTU and is a former member of the Western branch Committee of the Federated Workers Union of Ireland. Involved in numerous voluntary and cultural organisations over the years he is a member of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, a former Sligo County Secretary of Comhaltas, and he was Cathaoirleach of the host branch of Comhaltas in 1989/91 when Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann was first awarded to Sligo. He is a member of the Board of the Hawk's Well Theatre and he is the current Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Strandhill Community MaritimeCentre.

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Martha Kearns – is a highly respected journalist and communications professional with more than 15 years of top-flight media experience. A seasoned storyteller, she was most recently news editor of The Sunday Business Post where she worked for six years. The Sligo native worked in a number of senior executive roles at Ireland's premier business and politics newspaper. She was also a senior staff writer and columnist, contributing opinion page columns, interviews and major focus pieces for the paper.

During her time at The Sunday Business Post, Martha played a key role in shaping its coverage of the 2008 financial crisis and the banking crash in Ireland. She was news editor when the newspaper successfully exited the examinership process and relaunched under new ownership. Martha started her career in Independent News & Media (INM) in 1996. During her 11 years at INM, Martha worked at both the Evening Herald and the Irish Independent covering a wide spectrum of general news events. Her roles at the Irish Independent included senior reporter, education correspondent and assistant news editor. In 2005, she successfully completed the World Association of Newspapers Executive Leadership Programme for Independent Newspapers.

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Gerry Moore – is a highly motivated, enthusiastic Director, Board Member and General Manager who is driven and focused with excellent communication skills. Over 20 years working in the hospitality and tourism sector and 12 years at a senior management level. Key areas of expertise range from managing all aspects of sales and marketing, profit and loss ownership, operations, customer service and delivering strategic competitive advantage. A leader with knowledge and skills in hospitality and tourism, who achieves success through direction and development, meeting deadlines and delivering outstanding results.

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Sinead Maguire - was recently elected to Sligo County Council, a solicitor by profession, she has a keen interest in the arts and was a member of Coolera Dramatic Society and the Cumman Dramaiocht in NUIG while a student there.

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Roddy Quinn - is a Family doctor who has been interested in the theatre from a young age. Since coming to live and work in Sligo in 1984 he has been an active member of Coolera Dramatic Society which, as well as hosting the highly successful annual pantomime (he has directed the show on six occasions and filled many other backstage and acting roles), has been responsible for many award winning dramatic productions. Indeed, Roddy won the best supporting actor award at the All-Ireland open amateur drama finals in Athlone in 2003 for his playing of “Michael” in Frank McGuiness’s “Someone who’ll watch over me”. He has also acted with Sligo Drama Circle, Silver Apples theatre company and Splodar (Manorhamilton).
Roddy also brings experience of involvement with organisations at a local and national level. He is currently chairperson of the Parenting Network, a high level body involved in influencing policy at a national level to support parents in their parenting role. He has also, on a regular basis, chaired committees of the Irish College of General Practitioners that are tasked with the training of young doctors who want to specialise in family practice.