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Featuring:

Dubhán Ó Longáin (Duane Long) CHAIR

Dubhán obtained both his undergraduate and master’s degree at Ulster University, Magee Campus, before completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Belfast. He is now working towards his PhD on the Laoithe Fiannaíochta (Ossianic Lays) and specifically the orality of the lays and their role in society. His research interests include Irish folklore (particularly the Ossianic tales), the manuscript tradition and modern Irish literature.He is also a creative writer and his first collection of poetry, entitled IDEO Locator, was published by Coiscéim in 2020. He is also a writer of short stories and has contributed to the recently published, award winning anthology 'Bláth na dTulach'.

Nessa O'Mahony

Nessa O’Mahony, a Dublin native, has published five collections of poetry and is a respected voice in both fiction and non-fiction. Her work includes "Bar Talk" (1999), "Trapping a Ghost" (2005), "In Sight of Home" (2009), "Her Father’s Daughter" (2014), and "The Hollow Woman on the Island" (2019). She is also an esteemed editor and an advocate for celebrating diverse voices in literature, having curated tributes such as the Poetry Ireland Review Issue 138 dedicated to Eavan Boland. O’Mahony currently serves as an associate lecturer with The Open University and holds a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of Wales, Bangor.

Dr. Niall Comer

Niall Comer is a lecturer in Irish Language and Literature with Ulster University. He has taught a number of translation modules and is the course director of the MA in translations. He has published widely on various aspects of Irish tradition and has served as Uachtarán of Conradh na Gaeilge.

Bernie Walsh

Bernie Walsh was born and raised in the vicinity of the Twin Towns. Her keen interest in the Irish language began at an early age when she had the opportunity of spending three years at Letterbrick School where all subjects were taught through Irish. Later, upon completion of a B. Ed. degree at Carysfort College, she was awarded the Vere Foster gold medal for having achieved the highest mark in Professional Irish.  

Bernie began her teaching career in Glenties and moved to British Columbia, Canada where she spent fourteen years. She returned to Donegal in 1999 with her Canadian husband and five little Canadians! She then taught at Sessiaghoneill school until retirement in 2018.  

Her passion for the language was reignited on her return home and she completed postgraduate studies in Translation and Editing at Maynooth University in 2017. It was always a desire of hers to be in an environment where Irish was the working language. That dream came true when she secured a position as translator in the Irish Department of the European Commission in Brussels. In recent times, Bernie has been involved in various events hosted by Líonra Leitir Ceanainn and continues to participate in Irish language courses.