Mark O‘Halloran is a writer/ actor from Co. Clare, Ireland. As an actor he has worked with all the major theatre companies in Ireland, most recently in the acclaimed production of The Importance of Nothing by Pan Pan theatre company and The Shadow of a Gunman with The Abbey Theatre Dublin.

Anne Enright is the inaugural Laureate for Irish Fiction. Her short stories have appeared in several magazines including The New Yorker, Granta and The Paris Review, and she won the 2004 Davy Byrnes Irish Writing Award for her story, ‘Honey’.

Anne Enright is the inaugural Laureate for Irish Fiction. Her short stories have appeared in several magazines including The New Yorker, Granta and The Paris Review, and she won the 2004 Davy Byrnes Irish Writing Award for her story, ‘Honey’.

Clare Youth Theatre is an initiative of the Clare County Arts Office. Over 200 teenagers, ranging in age from 12-18, have been members of the theatre since its establishment in 2006.

Seán Spellissy is a well-respected local historian and is the author of many books, including Clare County of Contrast; Limerick in Old Photographs; A History of County Clare.

Seán Spellissy is a well-respected local historian and is the author of many books, including Clare County of Contrast; Limerick in Old Photographs; A History of County Clare.

Beathaisnéis – Aidan Courtney

Is maisitheoir, cartúnaí, eagarthóir, foilsitheoir, léirmheastóir leabhar, scríbhneoir agus éascaitheoir ceardlainne de greannáin é Aidan Courtney.

Alan Titley is the author of eight novels, four collections of stories, many plays and some poetry including An Bhean Feasa, an epic poem based on the life and times of Goody Glover the Irishwoman hanged as a witch in Boston in 1688.

Alan Titley is the author of eight novels, four collections of stories, many plays and some poetry including An Bhean Feasa, an epic poem based on the life and times of Goody Glover the Irishwoman hanged as a witch in Boston in 1688.

Eimear Ryan’s writing has recently appeared in Winter Papers, The Dublin Review, The Long Gaze Back and Granta.com.

Nell Regan is a poet and non-fiction writer whose latest collection is One Still Thing (Enitharmon Press, London, 2014).

Tina O’Toole is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Limerick.

Tina O’Toole is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Limerick.

Sonia O’Sullivan is an Irish former track and field athlete. She won a gold medal in the 5000 metres at the 1995 World Championships, and a silver medal in the 5000 metres at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Sonia O’Sullivan is an Irish former track and field athlete. She won a gold medal in the 5000 metres at the 1995 World Championships, and a silver medal in the 5000 metres at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Christy O’Connor is a freelance sports Journalist based in Ennis. His first book Last Man Standing was runner up in the Boylesports Irish Sports Book of the Year in 2005.

Alison O’Connor is a journalist and broadcaster. Her work as a political columnist involves regular commentary on current affairs on radio and television, as well as guest presenting the Tonight with Vincent Browne programme on TV3.

Éilís Ní Dhuibhne was born in Dublin. She studied at University College Dublin and the University of Copenhagen and has an M Phil in Medieval Studies and a PhD in Irish Folklore.

Little John Nee is a writer/performer based in Co. Galway in the west of Ireland. A prolific creator of work for theatre he was recently elected to Aosdána.

Little John Nee is a writer/performer based in Co. Galway in the west of Ireland. A prolific creator of work for theatre he was recently elected to Aosdána.

Afric McGlinchey’s début collection, The lucky star of hidden things (Salmon Poetry, 2012), was translated into Italian.

Manchán Magan is a writer and documentary-maker. He has written books on his travels in Africa, India and South America and two novels.

Jaskane showcases a unique blend of violin, oboe and guitar, while playing an eclectic mix of musical genres.

Paul Kimmage was born in Dublin in 1962. A talented cyclist, he was a double National Road Race Champion and represented Ireland at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

Frank Golden is a Clare-based poet, novelist, and visual artist. He has published four books of poems, the most recent of which was In Daily Accord (Salmon Publications).

Sinéad Gleeson’s essays have appeared in Granta, Winter Papers, Banshee and Autumn: An Anthology for the Changing Seasons. 

Carol Drinkwater is a multi-award winning actress who remains best known for her portrayal of Helen Herriot in the BBC television series, All Creatures Great and Small.

Anne Devlin who was born in Belfast in 1951 is a short story writer, playwright and screenwriter.

Patrick Deeley is from Loughrea, County Galway. His poems have won many awards and have been published and translated widely over the past thirty years.

Patrick Deeley is from Loughrea, County Galway. His poems have won many awards and have been published and translated widely over the past thirty years.

Man Booker Prize and IMPAC Prize shortlisted author Michael Collins was born in Limerick and emigrated to the United States on an athletics scholarship to Notre Dame, Indiana, where he still lives.

Man Booker Prize and IMPAC Prize shortlisted author Michael Collins was born in Limerick and emigrated to the United States on an athletics scholarship to Notre Dame, Indiana, where he still lives.

Rose Tremain was one of only five women writers to be included in Granta’s original list of 20 Best of Young British Novelists in 1983.  Her novels and short stories have been published worldwide

Lisa McInerney’s writing has featured in The Stinging Fly, Granta, Winter Papers and BBC Radio 4, and in the anthologies The Long Gaze Back (New Island) and Town and Country (Faber). 

Paul Durcan was born in Dublin in 1944. His first book, Endsville (1967), has been followed by more than twenty others, including The Berlin Wall Café (a Poetry Book Society Choice in 1985),

Cónal Creedon is a novelist, playwright, and documentary film maker.  His fiction has been translated into Bulgarian, German, Austrian, Italian – with extracts published in China.

John Boyne was born in Ireland in 1971. He is the author of ten novels for adults, five for young readers and a collection of short stories.