Alan Esslemont and Feidhlim Seoighe have been appointed to the Board of An Taibhdhearc, Ireland's National Irish Language Theatre located in Galway. Find out more here...
Alan Esslemont is the former Director General of TG4 and former Chair of the Celtic Media Festival. Under his leadership, TG4 developed the highly successful Irish-language film brand Cine4, which led to An Cailín Ciúin/The Quiet Girl being nominated for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film in March 2023. TG4 has also made major progress as a provider of non-linear digital content and social media, with a particular focus on younger audiences.
Alan also helped establish and successfully launch BBC ALBA, the Scottish Gaelic television channel, and was a founding board member and treasurer of the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) from 1997-2000. Oireachtas na Gaeilge presented Alan with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024, and RTS Ireland awarded him a Fellowship Award in 2025. Alan’s first novel, The Princess of Connemara – A Novel, was published in April 2026.
"I would especially like to acknowledge the outstanding work carried out by Siobhán Nic Fhlannchadha as Chair of the Board of An Taibhdhearc. The Board, Executive Team and Artistic Community of An Taibhdhearc have achieved vitally important work, supported by the Government’s backing of the vision and strategy they have developed. It is a tremendous privilege to have this opportunity at this point in time to help support the continued development of An Taibhdhearc - as a platform and inspiration for the Irish-language creative community and as the National Theatre for Irish-speaking audiences across the country." - Alan Esslemont, newly appointed Chair of the Board of An Taibhdhearc
Feidhlim Seoighe is originally from Rinn Mhór in Galway city but lives in Dublin. He studied Law at the University of Galway and is also a graduate of Fiontar at Dublin City University. He qualified as a solicitor and works in aviation law at a legal firm. He previously served as Irish Language Officer with the Students’ Union at the University of Galway and with the Union of Students in Ireland. He was also a member of the Executive Committee of Conradh na Gaeilge and previously served as a director of Seachtain na Gaeilge and Oireachtas na Gaeilge.
Feidhlim Seoighe began his term as Secretary on 25 May 2026.
Alan Esslemont will assume the role of Chair on 13 July 2026, on the opening night of SAOIRSE, a new musical produced by An Taibhdhearc for the Galway International Arts Festival.
Set in the Kerry Gaeltacht, SAOIRSE is a humorous and heartfelt musical celebrating first love and first heartbreak. Full of energy and hormones, SAOIRSE brings plenty of humour and courage to the stage, featuring a large ensemble of ten multi-talented actor-musicians performing live.
An Taibhdhearc is Ireland’s national Irish-language theatre. They create, present and support the performing arts, rooted in a historic building in the centre of Galway city. They do this with and for Irish-speaking audiences, artists and communities throughout Ireland and around the world.
The vision of An Taibhdhearc is that Irish-language theatre will achieve world-class standards, inspiring everyone to participate in Irish-language performing arts. An Taibhdhearc aims to be both a sanctuary and a destination for performing artists and the wider Irish-language theatre community. These appointments and SAOIRSE form part of the Síolta 2025–2027 strategy, funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
Dr Siobhán Nic Fhlannchadha, Chair, will step down from the Board after completing her second term.
"I wish Alan and Feidhlim every success as they join the Board. Serving on the Board of An Taibhdhearc, first as Secretary and later as Chair, has been one of the great honours of my life. I had the opportunity to work alongside wonderful colleagues and I am proud of all we achieved together. As An Taibhdhearc approaches its Centenary in 2028, I look forward to seeing what lies ahead." - Dr Siobhán Nic Fhlannchadha.
These appointments were made with the support of Boardmatch.
Tá Alan Esslemont ceaptha mar Chathaoirleach agus Feidhlim Seoighe ceaptha mar Rúnaí Boird ag An Taibhdhearc, Amharclann Náisiúnta na Gaeilge
Is Iar-ArdStiúrthóir ar TG4 é Alan Esslemont agus is iar-Chathaoirleach ar Fhéile na Meán Ceilteach é. Faoi cheannaireacht Alan Esslemont, d'fhorbair TG4 branda rathúil scannánaíocht Ghaeilge Cine4 as a d’eascair ‘An Cailín Ciúin/The Quiet Girl’ a ainmníodh do Ghradam Oscar don Scannán Idirnáisiúnta is fearr i 2023. Faoi stiúir Esslemont, rinne TG4 dul chun cinn freisin mar sholáthraí ábhar digiteach neamhlíneach agus meán sóisialta, ag díriú go speisialta ar lucht féachana níos óige.
Chabhraigh Alan chun BBC ALBA, an cainéal teilifíse Gàidhlige, a bhunú agus ba bhall bunaithe agus cisteoir é ar Acadamh Scannán agus Teilifíse na hÉireann, IFTA (1997-2000). Bhronn Oireachtas na Gaeilge Gradam Saoil ar Alan in 2024 agus bhronn RTS Éireann Gradam Comaoine air in 2025. Foilsíodh an chéad úrscéal leis: 'The Princess of Connemara - A Novel', in Aibreán 2026.
Dúirt Alan Esslemont, Cathaoirleach nuacheaptha Bhord An Taibhdhearc: “Ba mhaith liom aitheantas faoi leith a thabhairt don obair iontach atá déanta ag Siobhán Nic Fhlannchadha mar Chathaoirleach ar Bhord na Taibhdheirce. Tá saothar an-tábhachtach curtha i gcrích ag Bord, Feidhmeannaigh agus Lucht Ealaíne na Taibhdheirce, agus tacaíocht tugtha ag an Rialtas don fhís agus straitéis atá deilbhithe acu. Is pribhléid an-mhór an deis seo a fháil ag an bpointe seo, chun cabhrú leis an bhforbairt seo ar an Taibhdhearc - mar ardán agus inspioráid do phobal cruthaitheach na Gaeilge agus mar Amharclann Náisiúnta do phobal féachana na Gaeilge ar fud na tíre.”
Is as an Rinn Mór, i gcathair na Gaillimhe, d’Fheidhlim Seoighe, ach tá cónaí air i mBaile Átha Cliath le blianta beaga anuas. Rinne sé staidéar ar an dlí in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus is céimí de chuid Fiontar in Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath é chomh maith. Is aturnae cáilithe é agus tá sé ag obair i réimse na heitlíochta i ngnólacht dlí sa phríomhchathair. Chaith sé tréimhse mar Oifigeach na Gaeilge i gComhaltas na Mac Léinn in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus le hAontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn. Bhí sé ina bhall de Choiste Gnó Chonradh na Gaeilge, agus ina stiúrthóir ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge agus ar Oireachtas na Gaeilge roimhe seo.
Thosaigh Feidhlim Seoighe a théarma mar Rúnaí Boird ar an 25 Bealtaine 2026.
Glacfaidh Alan Esslemont le cúraimí an Chathaoirligh ar an 13 Iúil, ag Oíche Oscailte SAOIRSE, ceoldráma nua, léirithe ag An Taibhdhearc d’Fhéile Ealaíne Idirnáisiúnta na Gaillimhe.
Suite i nGaeltacht Chiarraí, is ceoldráma greannmhar, croíúil é SAOIRSE a cheiliúrann an chéadsearc agus an chéad bhriseadh croí. Lán le fuinneamh agus hormóin, tá go leor grinn agus misnigh i SAOIRSE, le ensemble mór de dheichniúr aisteoirí/ ceoltóirí ilchumasacha ag taibhsiú beo ar stáitse.
Is í An Taibhdhearc amharclann náisiúnta na Gaeilge. Cruthaíonn siad, cuireann siad i láthair, agus tacaíonn siad leis na taibhealaíona, fréamhaithe i bhfoirgneamh stairiúil i lár cathair na Gaillimhe. Déanann siad é seo le agus ar son lucht féachana, ealaíontóirí, agus pobail na Gaeilge ar fud na tíre agus ar fud an domhain.
An fhís atá ag An Taibhdhearc ná go mbeidh amharclannaíocht na Gaeilge ar chaighdeán domhanda, as a dtagadh spreagadh don uile dhuine a bheith páirteach i dtaibhealaíona na Gaeilge. Beidh An Taibhdhearc ina tearmann agus ina sprioc ag taibhealaíontóirí agus ag comhphobal na hamharclannaíochta Gaeilge. Tá na ceapacháin seo agus SAOIRSE ag dul ar aghaidh mar chuid do stráitéis Síolta 2025-2027, maoinithe ag An Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta.
Fágfaidh an Dr Siobhán Nic Fhlannchadha, Cathaoirleach, an Bord tar éis a dara téarma a chríochnú.
“Guím gach rath ar Alan agus Feidhlim agus iad ag teacht ar an mBord. Is ceann do mhór-onóir mo shaoil a bhí ann suí ar Bhord An Taibhdhearc, mar Chathaoirleach agus mar Rúnaí roimhe sin. Bhí an deis agam oibriú le comhghleacaithe iontacha agus tá mé bródúil as an méid a bhaineamar amach le céile. Agus An Taibhdhearc ag druidim le Comóradh an Chéad i 2028, tá mé ag súil leis an méid atá amuigh roimpi.”
Déanadh na ceapacháin seo le tacaíocht ó Boardmatch.
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