The National Museum of Ireland will become an autonomous body next month, administered by an independent board.
Arts Minister John O'Donoghue said the board, chaired by Dr John O'Mahony SC, would "herald the beginning of a vibrant and exciting future".
The new board includes Peter Barry, former minister; Gerard Collins, former minister; Brian Coyle, fine art expert; Dervilla Donnelly, chairwoman Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies; Niamh Fitzpatrick, former director of Marketing Tourism Ireland; David Hanna, senior partner in a financial services company; Bernardine Hurley, RDS council member; Eamon Lankford, former chairman Iveragh Archaeological Programme Survey; Susan McGrath, civil servant; Proinsias Ó Cillín, legal consultant; Nessa O'Connor, assistant keeper at the National Museum; Fergus McKenna O'Hagan SC; Nollaig Ó Muraíle, lecturer in Irish NUI Galway; John Sheehan, lecturer in archaeology UCC; Ruth Whelan, professor of French NUI Maynooth.