board of directors

Judith Woodworth - Chair

Judith Woodworth was Director/CEO of the National Concert Hall from 1993-2010.  Since retirement she has served as a Council member of the Arts Council, as chairperson of the national St Patrick’s Festival Board and of the Board of Management of Alexandra College.  She is currently serving her second term as a member of the Governing Authority of the University of Limerick, where she also serves on the Finance, HR and Asset Management Committee and also as chairperson of the University Concert Hall board.  She also chairs the Alfred Beit Foundation which owns and manages Russborough House, one of Ireland’s finest Palladian buildings.   She was formerly a Governor of The Irish Times Trust.

Judith was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Irish Academy of Music in 2016 and now serves on the Board of Governors of the RIAM.

Gary Butler

Gary Butler has over 34 years of experience in accountancy and finance related roles and joined UL in September 2021 from the University of Wolverhampton, where he was responsible for the financial strategy and performance of the University. 

During his time at Wolverhampton, Gary was a member of many project groups that implemented capital projects totalling over £250M. He was the key link with both internal and external auditors as well as a Chair for several committees. Gary also chaired the Midlands Group of the British Universities Finance Directors Group (BUFDG).

Gary is a strong believer of continuous improvement and working collaboratively as a team to deliver successful outcomes. With a degree in Economics and Politics, Gary is a member and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

Edward Hansom

Edward Hansom is Chief Investment Officer of Sirius Aviation Capital. He has worked in a variety of senior positions in aviation finance since 1988, including Chief Financial Officer of GPA Group plc. He has is a volunteer committee member of Limerick Jazz Society, and has a particular focus on developing jazz education through Limerick Jazz Workshop which he founded in 2007.

Edward is a graduate of Magdalen College, Oxford and the Manchester Business School. He has also gained a Graduate Diploma in Jazz from St. Andrews University.

Eugene Hogan

Eugene Hogan is a Managing Director based in the Mid-West for Teneo.

A strategic communications specialist, Eugene joined the global CEO advisory company in early 2020 when his firm, Bridge PR, was acquired by Teneo. He works with a wide portfolio of companies operating regionally, nationally and internationally in sectors such as technology, transport, education, environment, local government, real estate, healthcare and financial.

A former national journalist, Eugene joined the strategic communications industry in 2006 and, after five successful years with a global firm, established Bridge PR in 2011.  

Eugene is also a member of the board of St. Gabriel’s Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity that provides a wide range of services and facilities for children with complex needs arising from disability.

Trish Long

Trish Long is Vice President & General Manager of the Walt Disney Company (Ireland) and a member of the U.K. and Ireland Senior Leadership team. Trish is a native of Limerick (hails from St Mary’s Park) and attended Ard Scoil Mhuire. Prior to joining Disney Trish worked with the Irish Film Centre, Belltable Arts Centre, Big L pirate radio station and Limerick Rape Crisis Centre.

Trish has a Masters in Cultural and Communication Studies from Dublin City University. Board memberships have included: Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA); the Irish Industry Trust and INFACT; Irish Film Institute (IFI); Plassey Campus Centre and Troy and Ardmore Film Studios. Trish is a member of the UL Governing Authority and chairs the Access, Equality and Student Affairs Committee.

Aibhlin McCrann

Aibhlin McCrann is a director of Communiqué International, Ireland’s foremost leadership communications consultancy and has had a longstanding association with the arts, both as a professional musician and as an advocate. She served on the Arts Council for ten years and is currently a member of the Governing Authority of the University of Limerick and Chair of the board of the internationally renowned Irish Chamber Orchestra. She has a lifelong commitment to the development of  harping in Ireland.

Lorcan Murray

Lorcan is Presenter of RTÉ lyric fm’s most popular daily programme, Lorcan Murray’s Classic Drive, from 4 to 7pm Monday to Friday. He also, up to recently was host on RTÉ Gold’s Living in the 70’s on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Lorcan began in his career in National radio when after an audition in late 1987, he was offered a position with RTÉ 2FM in March 1988.

Over the last number of years he has become a household name through his presentation and music choice, as well as hosting a range of programmes on 2FM and Radio 1. Lorcan has held positions on the board of Managements at Árd Scoil Ris and An Mhodh Scoil ,Luimneach.and currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors at the University Concert Hall.

Niall Murphy - Company Secretary

Niall joined the University Concert Hall as Company Secretary in 2012. Niall is a qualified accountant with over 30 years business experience in the education, tourism and charitable sectors. He is currently Director of Commercial and Development Finance at the University of Limerick and is Company Secretary to a number of companies including the University of Limerick Foundation.

Roberty Reidy

Robert is a Chartered Civil Engineer having graduated in 1984 from University of Galway. He worked in various construction and facilities management roles in the private and public sectors until joining the University in 2003. As Director of the Buildings and Estates Department, Robert is responsible for all aspects of the physical development of the University campus and the management of the maintenance of the campus buildings and grounds. To date, Robert has delivered well over €200m of Capital developments at the University. Robert serves on the Board of many University subsidiary companies; Plassey Campus Centre CLG, Plassey Trust CLG, Plassey Campus Arena CLG, Plassey Campus Development Ltd. and University Concert Hall CLG.