Orlaith McBride to be new director of National Archives of Ireland

Josepha Madigan TD, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has announced the appointment of Orlaith McBride as the new Director of the National Archives of Ireland (NAI).

Orlaith McBride, new Director of the NAI
(Photo courtesy artscouncil.ie)

She succeeds John McDonough who served in the post prior to taking on the post of Director of Library Services at DCU.

Minister Madigan said: “Orlaith McBride brings a wealth of knowledge and experience along with her passion and commitment to this important role particularly from her role as Director of the Arts Council for almost a decade.

"This is a very exciting period for the National Archives. Along with its €24 million development of a new Archival Repository, the National Archives must also prepare for the challenges of collection in the modern digital age. It will also be major partner in key projects under the Decade of Centenaries Commemorations Programme. I wish Orlaith every success in her new role.”

Orlaith McBride has been the Director of the Arts Council, the state agency for developing the Arts in Ireland, since 2011.

During her time as Director she successfully delivered the Arts Council’s significant commemorations programme in 2016, the national programme during Ireland’s presidency of the EU in 2013, introduced a new strategy for the arts in Ireland, Making Great Art Work 2016-2025 as well as leading out of many strategic initiatives and partnerships most notably with Local Authorities, other cultural institutions, state agencies as well as leading the Creative Schools Programme as part of Creative Ireland.

Prior to this appointment, she worked in the arts for many years across a broad range of organisations including Local Authorities, the voluntary sector, education and theatre.