 She was a member of the RDS from 1946, and served on its industries, art, and general purposes committee in 1948.She was a founding member of the Arts Council (1951), and in 1956 was appointed to the council of the Arts and Crafts Society of Ireland and to the National Savings Committee.Vawn Corrigan believes that the confidence and sense of self-worth observable in the Irish Craft scene are part of Gahan's legacy.