Laureate for Irish Fiction Annual Lecture 2026 with Éilís Ní Dhuibhne

Reflections on the relationship of oral folktales and literary fiction, the lecture will be delivered by laureate for Irish Fiction Éilís Ní Dhuibhne and will feature performances by storyteller Nuala Hayes and musicians Muireann Nic Amlaoibh and Dónal O’Connor.

Éilís Ní Dhuibhne

Éilís Ní Dhuibhne is the author of more than thirty books. Her work includes the novels The Dancers Dancing, The Shelter of Neighbours, Fox, Swallow, Scarecrow, Hurlamaboc, Dordán, Cailíní Beaga Ghleann na Blath and seven collections of short stories.Her most recent books are Twelve Thousand Days: A Memoir (shortlisted for the Michel Déon Award 2020) and Little Red and Other Stories (Blackstaff 2020), Selected Stories (Blackstaff 2023), Fáínne Geal and Lae (Clo Iar Chonnacht 2023). She has been the recipient of many literary awards, most recently the Pen Award for an Outstanding Contribution to Irish Literature, and a Hennessy Hall of Fame Award. Her novel, The Dancers Dancing, was shortlisted for the Orange Prize in 2000. In addition to her fiction and drama, she has written many scholarly articles on folklore and literary topics, and is a regular book reviewer for The Irish Times. She is a member of Aosdána, and President of the Folklore of Ireland Society. In July 2025 she was selected as Laureate for Irish Fiction 2025-2028.

Nuala Hayes

Nuala Hayes is an actor, storyteller, broadcaster and author . Nuala trained as an actor at the Abbey Theatre and has performed and toured extensively both in Ireland and abroad. Her interest in storytelling began in 1991, when she founded Two Chairs Company with musician Ellen Cranitch to explore words and music in performance retelling Irish Legends, Myths and Folklore. She has toured internationally to Storytelling Festivals worldwide, including U.S. , Poland, Denmark, Spain, France, Germany, Scotland and UK. She has curated and organised many storytelling and musical events. Nuala is the author of Laois Folk Tales, published by The History Press Ireland in 2015. The stories she collected from the Midlands formed the basis of a Radio Series entitled Tales at the Crossroads , broadcast on RTE Radio One. Her most recent projects include researching the stories of Peig Sayers in collaboration with writer and folklore scholar Éilis Ni Dhuibhne, with animation by Rita Duffy for a performance entitled Peig: The Queen of Irish Storytellers.

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and Dónal O’Connor

Hailing from Dún Chaoin in West Kerry where Irish is spoken as a first language, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh grew up immersed in the sean-nós tradition. She spent over thirteen years as lead singer and flute-player with the Irish traditional group Danú, touring internationally, before evolving into solo and innovative collaborative work which has garnered critical acclaim. Her artistry bridges the ancient and the modern, carrying the Irish-language song tradition forward with contemporary relevance. Muireann is also a well known radio and TV presenter and hosts the popular show “Folk on One” on RTÉ Radio 1.

Dónal O’Connor is one of Ireland’s leading traditional musicians, he is also a much sought-after and highly regarded producer. He comes from a long and distinguished line of Irish fiddlers and singers and his collaborations have variously included membership of Ulaid, At First Light, Lá Lugh and RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh’s touring ensemble. He has brought his native Oriel music to all four corners of the globe, and he is a founder and Artistic Director of Belfast Tradfest. He has composed music for theatre, television and film and has presented music shows for BBC ALBA, BBC NI, TG4, BBC Radio Ulster and Raidió na Gaeltachta. Dónal is also the producer of the recent collaboration between Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and The Irish Chamber Orchestra “Róisín ReImagined”.