Governance

A founding member of the Backstage Theatre for Longford project, Philip has been involved in performing Arts for over thirty years with Backstage Theatre Group. Some productions include Whistle in the Dark, Faith Healer, Our Town, The Chastitute and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest for which he received an All-Ireland Drama Award.
Now retired, he formerly was a Principal Officer and Senior Manager with the Department of Social Protection. He holds a degree in Public Management, Higher
Certificate in Humanities in Advocacy Studies and Master Degree in Business Administration.

Michael Nevin is head of Enterprise with Longford County Council. He runs the Local Enterprise Office which supports the needs of entrepreneurs and small business in County Longford and he plays a pivotal role in promoting County Longford as an attractive location for inward investment.
From Longford Town he is a strong community activist and sits on the board of several voluntary organisations including the Temperance Hall Committee, The Longford Town Suburbs Committee that looks after the Mall, Longford & District Schoolboy league and County Longford Tourism Committee.
Michael sat on an advisory board for the Fidget Feet Aerial Dance when they were based in Longford . He is a big supporter of Backstage Theatre, championing it as a key piece of the cultural and social fabric of Longford that helps sell the Town as a good place to live and work.
Michael was appointed Director of the Backstage Theatre CLG at the Annual General meeting on 28 June 2017.

Georgina is a teacher of languages and Drama in Mullingar. She is a big supporter of the Backstage Theatre having been involved in the St. Mel’s Musical Society and the Backstage Theatre group. Georgina is involved in preparing children in scor na bpáistí and in Scor na nÓg andhas been involved in fundraising in Longford in various local projects and charities.

Georgina has long been associated with the Arts Centre in Mullingar where her students of Coláiste Mhuire perform in Musical and Drama pieces and enter various Drama competitions around the country.

Georgina is living in Longford since 2003 and was the founding chairperson of the Attic House. She is also a director of the Temperance Hall and the Irish Cultural Officer on the Slashers Executive.

Micheal Walsh is a retired Deputy Principal of Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon, Co Longford. Living in Longford since the early ’80s he has been involved with Longford Slashers since that time. Roles have included: Team Coach, Minor Club Chairperson, Children’s Officer, Senior Club Secretary, County Board Delegate and Club Executive Member.

Martina Needham has an honours degree in Botany from Trinity College Dublin, a higher diploma in Software Localisation from University of Limerick and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from University College Dublin. She has over 20 years’ experience working in libraries with various community groups and is an experienced event and project manager. Some of the projects included: A European Label award for an integrated language project with the Department of Education, a highly recommended BT New scientist project with the Library Science Club and Public Library project award for the Offaly Library Comic Con event. She was also Cruinniú na nÓg project coordinator for Offaly for 4 years (2018-22). She is currently the Creative Ireland Coordinator for Longford.

Christine is a teacher of Business, Accounting and TY Drama in Meanscoil Mhuire here in Longford. She has been involved in all things theatrical in Longford since childhood including Tops of the Town, Scór, St. Mel’s Musical Society, Longford Variety Group, Canal Studio Productions and Backstage Theatre Group. She is currently treasurer, actor and occasional director with BTG and has competed on numerous occasions on the All Ireland Drama Circuit and has also directed many school productions in Meanscoil Mhuire. Christine is also assistant Finance Director and assistant Summer School Director with the Drama League of Ireland.

A member of the Backstage Theatre Group for a number of years and is the present vice chairperson of the group.
She has been involved in many of the group’s productions over the years………
She tried her hand at directing for the Moydow Pillar Box Drama Group for their very first drama production.
Mary comes from a nursing background but changed her career 15 years ago and is now the Assessment Officer for Assessment of Need covering Longford/ Westmeath for the HSE.
Date of appointment: 25th June 2024.

Niall Gannon was appointed to the Board of Backstage Theatre CLG in June 2024 on foot of his election to Longford County Council. Niall has been a primary school teacher in St. Michael BNS in Longford town for the last 30 years. Over the years he has been involved with many different groups connected with Backstage. He has served on the committee of Backstage Theatre Group and has played a few small parts in plays over the years. Niall was involved in the early stages of the BTG/BYT panto and his eldest daughter is currently very involved with Backstage Youth Theatre. He hopes to use his experience and involvement with many groups and societies in the area to be of good assistance to the Backstage committee going forward.
Date of appointment: 25th June 2024.

Date of appointment: 25th June 2024.