October 2026

2026 has been a year of development - both professionally and for future productions.

After researching and setting up the group, and 5 years at its helm, in June I stepped away from Baboró Children’s Panel to give more space for new things. Working with this group has really been so rewarding, personally and professionally and inspired and really influenced my work and practice. I am very grateful for the time that I got to spend with these amazing young people.

As part of a new chapter, I will be returning to an Artist-in-Residence position in Backstage Theatre Longford. I think of Backstage as my theatre home and they have always been incredibly supportive of my work. I’m excited to see where the next 3 years will go. My first port of call was the setting up of the Junior Ambassador Panel - A group of eleven 10 and 11 year olds who I will work with on creative projects, as well as bringing them to performances and working on their critical response skills, so that they can be the children’s voices for Backstage and the cultural sector in Longford. We have a wonderful and enthusiastic group and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can create together and seeing how their confidence will grow during our time together.

I was fortunate enough to receive a CYPA bursary last year to learn Irish and consider how to continue to use Irish in my work. My work on this has continued with Irish lessons, mentorship and an intensive trip to the Gaeltacht in June. I look forward to seeing how this will impact my work and practice going forward.

I am delighted to also continue my work as Mentor and coordinator of the Young Curators Network. Now in its 5th year as a national programme, it is really beginning to make an impact. It is such a brilliant programme that gives young people a fantastic insight into programming and curating an arts programme. I taught Introduction to Playwriting and Screenwriting in University of Galway this year, and also continue my work as a freelance dramaturg. I’m also enjoying working with the Creative Schools programme and I am excited to start the journey with 2 new schools.

I have been delighted to be one of 10 participants in the 2025-2026 Branar Meitheal programme, supported by The Arts Council of Ireland Creative Production Services Award.

Branar Meitheal is a dynamic support programme for artists and producers creating work for young audiences. It involves bespoke individual supports and carefully curated collective development opportunities over an 18-month period. The objective is to build a network with the knowledge, skills, experience and connections that enable a sustainable career in developing and presenting high-quality work for children and young people across Ireland and internationally. I have hugely benefitted from visits to children’s festivals in Galway, Brussels, Edinburgh and London and multiple networking and professional development opportunities, as well as wonderful support from Branar and my peers who are also part of the programme.

As part of Meitheal, I have begun development on a new piece for young audiences called ‘Follow the Birds’ in collaboration with Fionnuala Gygax and Masha Khalilieva, exploring displacement and a search for home. We plan to continue to further develop the piece next year.