Ruth Ennis is a writer from Kildare. Ruth’s debut novel Shorelines (Little Island) is a young adult verse novel retelling of The Little Mermaid, told through the lens of a fat protagonist. was published with Little Island in February 2026. She was the Emerging Writer in Residence at the dlr LexIcon 2025-2026. Ruth is usually working with books in some capacity.

Mikey Cullen is an award winning Dublin Poet, teacher, actor, filmmaker and spoken word artist.  His poetry has featured in national media numerous times, included in many publications and has taken him from Dublin to Derry to New York and Berlin amongst many places. Awarded best Irish poetry short film award at the Bloomsday Festival in June , Mikey is currently producing his debut collection of poetry alongside shooting two more poetry films

Darren Yorke is a Dublin-based playmaker from Longford. Specialising in improvisation and prioritising participation in process and performances, his award-winning work actively engages audiences of all ages as co-creators.  He champions improvisation through Grand Stretch, play-makes with Tally Ho, and is the incoming Artistic Director of Aisling Children's Arts Festival.

Joanne McCarthy / Joanne Nic Cárthaigh is a bilingual poet, editor and educator living in Waterford. Scríobhann sí i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla. In 2025, she was nominated for the An Post Irish Book Awards Poem of the Year Award and her poetry chapbook was shortlisted for the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award.

Niamh Fennessy is a theatremaker, performer and playwright based in Waterford, and a graduate of the MTU Cork School of Music.

Her work has been performed on the Theatre Royal stage and she’s a familiar face in the local arts scene, both on and offstage.

Sarah Bowie is a writer, illustrator and arts educator based in Waterford. Her Nina Peanut graphic novel series was one of the biggest-selling middle grade debuts of 2024 and has been translated into fourteen languages.

Ellen Ryan is a journalist and author who has contributed to the Irish Times and Irish Independent among other media.

Her debut book, Girls Who Slay Monsters, won Children’s Book of the Year (Senior) at the An Post Irish Book Awards 2022 and was shortlisted for overall Book of the Year. Ryan's latest book, They Called Us Witch, was released last month. It tells the remarkable stories of ten women who embodied magic in their daily lives and boldly defied oppression.