The Board of Culture Ireland has announced its decision to offer the post of Chief Executive to Eugene Downes, a consultant on international arts and cultural relations.

The Chairman, Professor Mícheál O Súilleabháin, said: “Culture Ireland is delighted to announce the historic selection of its first Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Eugene Downes has come to the fore against strong international interests in this position. Through his executive leadership, Culture Ireland will now commence its second phase of bringing into reality its strategic plan towards the continued expansion of support for Irish arts globally. We congratulate him on his success and we thank the several other short-listed candidates in particular for their interest in the Culture Ireland vision.”

Culture Ireland was established in 2005 for the advancement and promotion of Irish arts and artists on an international scale.
Previously Eugene Downes worked as an Irish diplomat, including a spell as Cultural Attaché in Russia, and as a music and opera broadcaster on RTÉ Lyric fm. He has served on the Boards of leading arts organisations in Ireland and abroad.