Irish Arts Center expands board with five new members as second phase of major transformation advances

The New York cultural institution has added leaders from health care, law, finance, film and music as it pushes ahead with redevelopment plans for its original 51st Street building. John Martin has also been named board president, while Robert J. McCann continues as board chair.

The Irish Arts Center has announced a major expansion of its board, welcoming five new trustees as the organization moves deeper into the public phase of its $50 million Phase Two Campaign. The new members are Michael J. Dowling, Gina Maria Leonetti, Tom McInerney, Aidan Synnott and Bill Whelan, bringing the board to 20 members.

The center said the additions come at a moment of “immense possibility” as it continues work on the second phase of its transformation, which will redevelop its original 51st Street building into a second flexible venue for intimate performances and residencies, while also strengthening programming, maintenance and endowment funds. The project follows the center’s 2021 opening of its new Hell’s Kitchen home, which The New York Times once described as a “four-story, 21,700-square-foot building...home as big as its aspirations.”

Aidan Connolly, executive director of the Irish Arts Center, said, “We are delighted and grateful to welcome these five extraordinary directors to the Irish Arts Center board. With an incredible depth of experience across executive leadership and entrepreneurship, healthcare, finance, politics, law, theatre, music and film, each will bring a fresh perspective in the service of our core values as we plan for the completion of our new IAC campus with the redevelopment of our 51st Street home.”

McCann also praised the new trustees and thanked the board’s nominations and governance leaders for guiding the expansion.

Robert J. McCann speaking at the Irish Arts Center Gala.

He said, “I am honored to welcome these extraordinary leaders to our organization, and I salute our Nominations and Governance Committee Chairs Kristine Covillo Lynch and John Daly for their stewardship of this first phase of our board expansion, and all our board members for their commitment to building the strongest possible organization for the future.”

The center also announced a leadership change on the board. John Martin, who has served on the board since 2010 and has been treasurer and chair of the audit committee, has been elected board president. Aidan Synnott will take over as treasurer and chair of the audit committee, while McCann remains board chair and Kristine Covillo Lynch continues as secretary and chair of nominations and governance.

The five new board members bring wide-ranging experience and connections that reflect the center’s growing profile.

Michael J. Dowling, the CEO emeritus of Northwell Health, has been a prominent voice on public health and social issues and has been honored with major awards in Ireland and the United States.

Michael Dowling.

Gina Maria Leonetti is a documentary and film producer and serves as chair of the National Coalition Against Censorship.

Gina Maria Leonetti.

Tom McInerney is president and chief executive officer of Genworth Financial and has also been active in civic and educational organizations.

Tom McInerney.

Aidan Synnott is a partner at Paul, Weiss and has built a reputation in antitrust litigation and complex commercial disputes.

Aidan Synnott.

Bill Whelan, the Grammy-winning composer behind "Riverdance", is one of Ireland’s best-known musical figures.

Bill Whelan.

The Irish Arts Center said the board growth comes as its spring 2026 season is underway, with programming that includes Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Carnegie Hall, Bell X1’s reimagining of its catalog, and the upcoming "North Star" production scheduled for June 3 to 21. The organization said the new trustees will help guide its next chapter as it deepens its role as a home for contemporary Irish and Irish American arts in New York.

Founded in 1972, the Irish Arts Center has become one of the most visible Irish cultural institutions in the United States, serving audiences with theater, dance, music, literature, and community programming. With its new building already open and the redevelopment of the original site now underway, the center says the next phase will help ensure its mission continues for decades to come.