She said she was looking forward to enabling people to renew their instinctive connection with the arts and support the future of their National Gallery.
“The National Collection belongs to the people of Ireland and I know that we will hold culture close as we all begin to heal from these challenging times,” she said.
Mayo native
Originally from Swinford, Co Mayo, Mary Keane was educated at Convent of Mercy, Claremorris, UCD and the King’s Inns, and now lives in Carne, Co Wexford.
A qualified barrister, she is the Deputy Director General and Director of Policy & Public Affairs with the Law Society of Ireland.
She is also Director of Irish Rule of Law International, a registered charity that promotes the rule of law in developing countries.
Mary Keane’s term on the Board of the National Gallery of Ireland began in 2014. She succeeds Michael Cush SC, who served as chair for the past six years.
Statutes
Under the statutes of the National Gallery of Ireland, the affairs of the gallery are entrusted to the Board of Governors and Guardians, which is responsible for policy and oversight.
The gallery is committed to providing a focal point for collective reflection as we emerge from the pandemic, Mary Keane said.
“Our shared experiences will inform the national recovery and I am certain that the road ahead will be enriched through a renewed connection of the people with their art.
"We have all had time to reflect on what is core to our experience as human beings and we understand now more than ever the value of those things that endure and inspire and make us more, whether individually or collectively.”
Five ex-officio holders
The Board of the National Gallery comprises up to 17 members, of which ten are appointed by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, five are ex-officio holders of the offices listed below, and two are nominated and appointed by the Royal Hibernian Academy.
Members appointed by the Minister serve terms of five years. Ex-officio members serve terms of varying duration depending on the constitution of their organisation.
- Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA),
- President Royal Dublin Society (RDS),
- President and Vice President Royal Irish Academy (RIA),
- President Office of Public Works (OPW),
- Chair.
Current Board members:
- Maurice Buckley
- Mary Canning
- Lynda Carroll
- Diana Copperwhite
- Michael Cush
- John Dardis
- Dan Flinter
- Jacqueline Hall
- Gary Jermyn
- Mary Keane (chair)
- Professor Owen Lewis
- Abigail O'Brien
- John O'Doherty
- Ann Prendergast
- Una Sealy
- Lesley Tully
- Barney Whelan
The National Gallery of Ireland is currently closed, but there are many ways for the public to engage with the national collection during this time.
Virtual tours
Initiatives include ‘National Gallery at Home’ videos, Work of the Day, Mindfulness and Art, and at-home activities connected to the national collection.
Virtual tours of iconic spaces such as the Shaw Room and the Grand Gallery, as well as recent exhibition Murillo: The Prodigal Son Restored, can also be explored from home.
Find out more at www.nationalgallery.ie/national-gallery-ireland-at-home