THE CHIEF Executive of the London Irish Centre in Camden has resigned from the post after four years in the role.
David Barlow confirmed to The Irish Post today that he had given his notice to the board of trustees at the centre, which has been providing welfare, social and cultural services to the Irish across London for more than 60 years.
“I have resigned, but we haven’t set a date yet, so it will be in the summer or early autumn probably when I leave,” Mr Barlow told The Irish Post this afternoon.
The CEO has been at the helm of the LIC as a number of significant developments have taken place over recent years – including the announcement last November that the Camden Square building’s historic Kennedy Hall would be returned to Irish community use after being let to the local Spanish Centre organisation for 10 years.
He was also involved in the plans for a new LIC library, containing more than 10,000 publications linked to Ireland, its language and Diaspora, which is due to be officially launched this year.
And in June 2014 Mr Barlow’s decision to allow LIC Arts Director Gary Dunne continue to carry out his duties after relocating to Ireland caused discontent among some staff members.
Answering his critics at the time, Mr Barlow claimed there was “no reason” why such a move would be “detrimental” to what the centre was trying to achieve.
Although some of the centre’s plans for 2015 are still to be implemented, Mr Barlow claims the time now feels right to look for “something else”.
“I just decided, after four years, it’s time to look for something else,” he told us.
“We have had lots of changes here, which I think have been fairly successful, so I have decided to probably go back to do some work in criminal justice or disability, which is where most of my career has been previously.
“But I have really enjoyed working here and continue to do so,” he added.
