My love of writing....

My love of writing began as a child. Often before going to sleep, I would make up words to some well known tune. As a teen, I wrote poetry in notebooks and kept them in a drawer. Later, I moved to London and discovered the coffee houses, where people performed their own poetry and songs. With knees knocking, I read my first poem out loud in front of a small crowd! I had landed in a creative hub and so much of my writing was inspired by listening to others and by reading. When it was still in fashion, I used to love writing letters. What a beautiful way to convey life's story...Why not write a letter now to someone and surprise them!

Later, back in my native Cork.......when challenged to concoct some bedtime stories for my two young kids, I discovered a new talent – writing for children by just listening to, and copying their ideas (Sssh! Don’t tell them!). Never gifted with a sharp memory, I wrote some of my stories down, and thus began a new love...writing radio drama. 

Radio drama and Theatre

 ​The Lonely Flower and The Adventures of the Stripy Pyjamas are just two of several radio dramas for children, which I wrote and produced. They were all broadcast on RTE Jnr Digital Radio. Recently, I adapted one of my drama scripts into a children’s book, due to be published in the near future, so watch this space! Want to read some extracts from my scripts, just go to the radio page and you will find links to all there. 

I recently completed co-writing and producing an adult theatrical drama for Ocean of Notions Theatre company - Path through the Dark, The Story of Nano Nagle. My first adult radio drama has been bubbling away for a long time. I'm on draft xxx! Nobles of the wood...."The medieval city of Cork is in disarray. In an attempt to connect with his people, Prince Fiachna travels an arduous journey alone, and discovers the delicate threads that bind him to his people."  All I can say is that it will be ready when it's good enough......

Production completed in 2020 on a brand new children's docu/drama, A Handful of Women on the theme of Irish women's suffrage.  Broadcast on RTE Jr radio as part of #RTEHerstory 2020 and available NOW on RTE Jr podcast stream 
https://www.rte.ie/radio/radioplayer/html5/#/junior/21713997 

Poetry

After a long break from performance poetry, I attended Ó Bhéal's poetry night in Cork recently and reading my poems there was just like putting on a familiar glove.  I won their five word poetry challenge that same night much to my delight! 
 
My poems have been published in a number of books, including Where the Hazel Falls, An Anthology of Modern Irish Verse (2006) and Irish Lifelines, An anthology of poetry by Irish women survivors in London (2008). I am currently working on my first solo collection entitled  'Reflections of the Half-light' and have been busy writing poems for children for the first time! I will reveal some of these very soon!

I began my creative journey as a poetry performer in the coffeehouses of London. I first lured  my poetry from a bottom drawer onto the stage of a well-known London acoustic music and poetry club, Ructions.
I went on to co-run a weekly acoustic music and poetry performance club in London called Thalia’s.  I also facilitated some poetry writing workshops for Survivors Poetry London.