The Board of the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) is delighted to announce the appointment of Aoife K. Walsh as its new Head of Exhibitions & Programming.
A collaboration between University College Dublin and the National Library of Ireland, MoLI is Ireland's national museum of literature and one of the country's leading cultural institutions. Located in the original home of UCD on St Stephen's Green, the museum brings Irish writing alive through immersive exhibitions, public programmes, contemporary commissions and encounters with the stories, voices and ideas that have shaped Ireland's literary imagination.
Aoife joins MoLI from New Island Books, Dublin, where she served as Editorial Director, following an extensive career spanning publishing, literary programming, exhibition development and international cultural engagement. She previously worked with Literature Ireland, promoting Irish writers and literature on the global stage through major international book fairs in Frankfurt, London, Leipzig, Gothenburg, Beijing, Moscow and Bologna and cultural showcases in Ireland.
Over more than fifteen years, Aoife has established herself as a respected figure in Irish literary culture, bringing together writers, readers, publishers and audiences through innovative publishing, cultural partnerships and literary experiences.
At New Island Books, Aoife played a leading role in shaping the publisher's editorial direction during a period of growth and acclaim. Working with emerging and established writers and the estates of canonical authors, her publishing projects included titles such as Nora by Nuala O'Connor, The Dublin Pub and Three Castles Burning by Donal Fallon, Gratefully & Affectionately: Mary Lavin & The New Yorker by Gráinne Hurley, An Asylum for My Affections: Sketches of Maeve Brennan, Home Economics by CaitrĂona Lally and a celebrated standalone edition of James Joyce's The Dead.
Aoife takes up her position with immediate effect. Announcing the appointment, David Cleary, Director and CEO of MoLI, said:
"On behalf of the Board of MoLI, and our founders, University College Dublin and the National Library of Ireland, I am delighted to welcome Aoife to the museum."
"Aoife brings exceptional experience in publishing, literary culture and public engagement. She combines a deep knowledge of Irish writing with a proven ability to connect literature with broad audiences in meaningful and imaginative ways. As MoLI enters an exciting new phase of growth, we look forward to seeing her shape ambitious exhibitions and programmes that will further strengthen the museum's impact and profile at home and internationally.”
Speaking about her appointment, Aoife K. Walsh said:
"I am delighted to join MoLI, an institution that celebrates the transformative power of literature and the enduring importance of storytelling in our lives."
