The Irish Heritage Trust is made up of an executive board of members; individuals with a wealth of experience in many different aspects business and heritage who are passionate about its preservation. Each member offers expertise and advice in serving the aims of the Irish Heritage Trust through several board meetings a year. The current board members are:
Sir David Davies, Chairman of the Board
Sir David Davis of Abbey Leix, Co. Laois is by profession a banker and businessman of international repute. He was instrumental in sponsoring the report "A Future of Irish Historic Houses? - A Study of Fifty Houses" and was Chairman of the Steering Group which advised the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on establishing the Irish Heritage Trust.
Camilla McAleese - Company Secretary
Under Treasurer of the Honorable Society of King's Inns. Mrs. McAleese is also Chairperson of the board of the Irish Landmark Trust which undertakes the conservation, restoration and maintenance of buildings of note, and their conversion to domestic use suitable for short-term lettings.
The Knight of Glin, Desmond FitzGerald
Current President of the Irish Georgian Society. Dr. FitzGerald is a noted art historian and the author of many articles and books on Irish art and architectural history. In 2002, he wrote 'Ireland's Painters' with Professor Anne Crookshank. In 2007 his book 'Irish Furniture' was co-written with James Peill.
Mark Griffin
Mark Griffin has been Assistant Secretary for Water and Planning within the Department of the Environment since March 2009. Previously Griffin served as Environment Counsellor in the Irish Permanent Representation to the European Union and as Principal Officer in the Housing Division before taking the role of Assistant Secretary for the Built Heritage and Corporate Services Division. He has been a member of the Department of the Environment since 1995.
Samantha Leslie
Owner and manager of Castle Leslie, Glaslough, Co. Monaghan. Ms. Leslie took over the estate at a young age and has reunited the Castle and fragmented lands under a family trust.
Tom McCarthy
Tom McCarthy is Managing Director of McCarthy Developments (Cork) Ltd. The Company's main focus is on the residential, commercial and leisure sectors. Tom holds a BA in Economics and an MBA from University College Cork. He is the Past President of the MBA Association of Ireland.
Sean Mulryan
Ballymore Properties Ltd. A former stonemason, he founded Ballymore in 1982 and has guided it from a single house in his home village to an international development company with currently 28 regeneration projects throughout Europe. Ballymore specialises in large mixed-use developments that incorporate homes, offices retail and leisure facilities.
Anne O'Donoghue
A Senior Executive in the Private Banking arm of Anglo Irish Bank having worked in the financial services sector for the past 27 years. She is a Member of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland, the Securities Institute and the Life Insurance Association and is an active supporter and patron of the arts both in Dublin and London.
Nobby O'Reilly
Mr. O'Reilly is Chief Executive of Pierse Contracting and former president of the Construction Industry Federation, the principal representative body for the construction industry.
James Osborne
Qualified as a solicitor in 1973 and joined A&L Goodbody, Solicitors where he was Managing Partner between 1982-1994. He is a now a Consultant. Mr. Osborne has served on a number of boards including Bank of Ireland plc and Ryanair Holdings plc.
Kevin Baird, CEO
Kevin Baird is the first Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Heritage Trust. He was previously the Heritage Lottery Fund's Manager for Northern Ireland. An architect by profession, he has worked in the private, public and voluntary sectors in Belfast, London and South Africa. Kevin first became active in conservation through the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society and then with the Building Preservation Trust Movement where he was a founding director of the Belfast Buildings Preservation Trust. Kevin is a strong advocate for heritage and the economic benefits it brings through tourism, and is passionate about making our heritage available for everyone to enjoy. He has lectured widely on heritage, architecture and conservation planning. Kevin is a member of the Management Committee for Ulster Garden Villages Ltd. and a board member of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
