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Irish Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Minister objected to second term for Arts Council director amid fallout over botched IT project
The director of the Arts Council , Maureen Kennelly, wanted to stay in her role, but Minister for Arts Patrick O'Donovan 'did not consent to a second term', she told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee on Thursday. Ms Kennelly, who has been in the role since April 2020, is due to step down next month. She told the committee she wanted to continue her work as director, but Mr O'Donovan did not grant her a second five-year term. She said she was 'very disappointed' that her contract had not been extended as she had 'great plans for the organisation' and the board 'fully supported' her. 'There were a number of reforms that I brought in, and there were a number of other reforms that I really wanted to see through. So it's a source of great disappointment that I won't be able to see those through,' she said. READ MORE Ms Kennelly said she believed that all her 'predecessors in living memory' had been granted a second term. She said she was offered 'a short-term contract, which I deemed unacceptable'. Asked if Mr O'Donovan did not grant Ms Kennelly a second term because of the IT project controversy, Feargal Ó Coigligh, secretary general at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, said: 'The minister sanctioned the contract that he deemed appropriate.' About €6.7 million was spent by the arts organisation on a new IT system that was eventually abandoned. The PAC was told how the Arts Council is trying to recoup about €4 million lost through the botched IT project. Committee members heard the organisation had started legal proceedings against two contractors and was in the 'pre-action stage' in relation to two others. 'We are vigorously pursuing our cases to reduce the loss to the taxpayer,' Ms Kennelly told the committee . She said the council needed to modernise its IT systems and integrate five systems into one. The council 'engaged external contractors to manage and deliver the work, as we did not have the internal resources to deliver this large-scale project', she said. Ms Kennelly said, after some delays, 'multiple bugs were discovered' with the new system in 2022. She said every effort was made to 'rescue it', but ultimately this could not be done. Mr Ó Coigligh said he was 'very annoyed' that so much public money was lost through the failed IT scheme, adding that it 'shouldn't have happened'. 'Mistakes were made, and we put up our hands that mistakes were made,' he said. Mr Ó Coigligh said lessons have been learned to prevent such financial losses in the future. 'I'm putting in place changes to make sure it doesn't happen again,' he said. The minister has established an expert advisory committee, led by Professor Niamh Brennan, to review the governance and organisational culture at the Arts Council, Mr Ó Coigligh said. Representatives from the National Gallery also appeared before the committee on Thursday. Caroline Campbell, director of the National Gallery, said she hoped that a scanner bought for €125,000 and which lay idle for eight years will be up and running before the end of this year. She said she and her colleagues are 'very sorry for the length of time that it has taken to get the X-ray system up and running'. 'We anticipate that the system will be operational by the end of 2025, at no additional expense to the Exchequer,' Ms Campbell said. She said there were several reasons for the delay including 'pressures on the use of our building, unanticipated operational issues following the reopening of the gallery's historic wings in 2017, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and changes of key senior personnel during this period'.
Irish Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Watch live updates: Arts Council before Public Accounts Committee on botched €6.7m IT project
Órla Ryan - 1 minute ago The Public Accounts Committee will on Thursday examine recent spending controversies, in particular the €6.7 million spent by the Arts Council on a new IT system that was eventually abandoned. The controversial project sparked a full review into the operations of the council, after Minister for Arts and Culture Patrick O'Donovan said an initial report found it was not prepared for the scale of the IT project. We'll keep you updated with the hearing as it happens. Main points: Maureen Kennelly, director of the Arts Council, and Maura McGrath, chair of the board of the Arts Council, are among those set to appear before the PAC. It has been confirmed that Ms Kennelly will step down in June after concluding her five-year term. Representatives from the National Gallery are also due to appear before the committee to discuss why a scanner it bought for €125,000 lay idle for eight years.
Reuters
28-05-2025
- General
- Reuters
Dates announced for 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland
May 28 - The 2027 Ryder Cup will take place from Sept. 17-19 at Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland. The dates for the 100th anniversary edition of the biennial golf competition were announced on Wednesday. "The official announcement of the dates is always a significant milestone in the Ryder Cup journey for a country and a venue, and we're delighted to today confirm details for the 2027 contest at Adare Manor," said Guy Kinnings, chief executive of the European Tour Group. "Rory McIlroy's victory in the Masters last month to complete the career Grand Slam, combined with anticipation of July's Open Championship, has already heightened the buzz around golf on the island of Ireland. This announcement will add to that excitement as Ireland continues its preparation to host golf's greatest team competition for the second time in 2027 when the Ryder Cup celebrates its 100th anniversary." It will be the second time Team USA and Team Europe square off in the Emerald Isle. Europe won by a record 18 1/2 to 9 1/2 margin in 2006 at The K Club in County Kildare. "The passion of Irish people for golf makes Ireland really stand out internationally as a golfing venue, said Patrick O'Donovan, Ireland's minister for arts, media, communications, culture and sport. "For Ryder Cup week, the eyes of the sporting world will be on the beautiful village of Adare, and I am confident that the local community of Adare and the people of Limerick and Ireland generally, will ensure that this event is a wonderful success and that all who attend will want to return to visit Ireland again." The Golf Course at Adare Manor, located on the banks of the River Maigue, hosted the Irish Open in 2007 and 2008. Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, the course underwent a redesign by Tom Fazio in 2017. The 2025 Ryder Cup is being held this September at Bethpage Black in New York with captains Keegan Bradley for the Americans and Luke Donald for the defending champion Europeans. --Field Level Media
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Dates announced for 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor
The 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor will be held from 17-19 September, it has been confirmed. Ryder Cup Europe announced that four "build-up days" will take place between 13 and 16 September before the matches begin on Friday 17 will be the second time Ireland has hosted the biennial contest after Europe's victory over the US at the K Club in County Kildare in 2006. Adare Manor, in County Limerick, was confirmed as the host venue in 2019. It previously hosted the Irish Open in 2007 and 2008 before undergoing an extensive renovation in 2027 event will be the 46th edition of the Ryder Cup and will mark its 100th anniversary."Rory McIlroy's victory in the Masters last month to complete the career Grand Slam, combined with anticipation of July's Open Championship (at Royal Portrush), has already heightened the buzz around golf on the island of Ireland," said DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) chief executive Guy Kinnings. "This announcement will add to that excitement as Ireland continues its preparation to host golf's greatest team competition for the second time in 2027 when the Ryder Cup celebrates its 100th anniversary."Patrick O'Donovan, Irish Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, said: "The passion of Irish people for golf makes Ireland really stand out internationally as a golfing venue. "For Ryder Cup week, the eyes of the sporting world will be on the beautiful village of Adare, and I am confident that the local community of Adare and the people of Limerick and Ireland generally, will ensure that this event is a wonderful success and that all who attend will want to return to visit Ireland again."This year's Ryder Cup takes place at Bethpage Black in New York from 26-28 will again be led by Luke Donald after the Englishman orchestrated a 16½-11½ victory in Rome in 2023. The US will be captained by Keegan captains for the 2027 event have not yet been confirmed.
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Arts Council director Maureen Kennelly to stand down in wake of botched IT contract
Maureen Kennelly has announced her intention to resign as director of the Arts Council next month. It comes as the council is due to appear before the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday concerning the failed project to develop an IT system for the organisation which cost nearly €6.7 million. In communications to staff, Ms Kennelly said she will be leaving her position soon after the Oireachtas committee hearings are complete. The controversial project sparked a full review into the operations of the council, after Minister for Arts and Culture Patrick O'Donovan said an initial report found it was not prepared for the scale of the IT project. READ MORE Ms Kennelly, who was appointed in April 2020, told staff her term as director was due to finish this month, adding that last December, the board of the Arts Council made a business case for her contract to be renewed for a further five-year term. However, following the publication of the Arts Council's annual report in February, which included details of the IT project costs, Ms Kennelly said the Minister refused to sanction the renewal. The board subsequently suggested that a decision on the renewal of Ms Kennelly's contract be deferred until after the work of the review group was complete, she said. Ms Kennelly told staff the board was 'disappointed' that the department could not see a way to do this, adding that she was subsequently offered a short-term contract with conditions she felt she 'could not accept.' She told staff it has been an honour to lead the council through 'tumultuous and exciting times' in the arts. In a statement, the board said it was with 'deep regret' that Ms Kennelly will step down as director in June. 'Maureen concluded her five-year term on 4 May and has generously agreed to remain in her role to represent the Arts Council at upcoming Public Accounts Committee and Oireachtas hearings,' it said. Noting that Ms Kennelly was appointed during the 'height of the Covid-19 pandemic,' the board said she led the organisation through an 'exceptionally challenging time.' 'Under her leadership, the Arts Council underwent a period of significant cultural change, with a strong focus on organisational development and staff wellbeing. 'She successfully resolved long-standing legacy challenges and brought renewed strategic clarity to the council's work. 'Together with the council, she secured unprecedented increases in State funding for the arts – enabling artists and organisations across the country to create and present work of outstanding quality. She also championed higher professional standards and fostered a climate of trust and respect across the wider arts sector,' it said. Maura McGrath, chair of the Arts Council, said Ms Kennelly is 'truly of the arts.' 'For her, the role of director was a vocation, not merely a job. Her commitment and passion were evident every day and are widely acknowledged across the sector. We are deeply grateful for her unwavering dedication and her loyal service to the arts community,' she said.
