In this episode, Vincent Wall speaks with Maeve Cavanagh, CEO of the Tomar Trust, about the remarkable philanthropic journey started by her late father, Tom Cavanagh. Maeve shares how the Trust was built on a simple vision of “levelling the playing field” in education, rural communities, integration, and the arts — and why Tomar’s funding was always intended to be the “icing on the cake,” complementing rather than replacing other supports.

As the Trust approaches its planned sunset in 2026/27, Maeve reflects on its impact, from transformative school initiatives to creative arts projects that changed young lives. She also offers candid insights on family dynamics, the challenges of governance, and the evolving culture of philanthropy in Ireland. Above all, Maeve emphasises that real legacy is found not in buildings, but in people — and in the opportunities philanthropy makes possible.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• The origins of the Tomar Trust and Tom Cavanagh’s vision of “levelling the playing field”

• Why the Trust always aimed to be the “icing on the cake,” not a replacement for other funding

• How family dynamics shaped Maeve’s path to chairing the Trust

• The four pillars of Tomar’s giving: education, rural communities, integration, and the arts

• What it means for a trust to enter “sunset mode” and plan its wind-down

• Memorable stories of impact, from school workshops to creative arts initiatives

• The challenges of governance, compliance, and balancing risk in philanthropy

• Why Maeve believes true legacy is about people, not buildings