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< Back Colin Durling Adults, Children, Special Needs Availability: Full time and is prepared to travel. Repertoire: Folk tales, legends, the supernatural, tales of the weird and wonderful, the wise and foolish. Preferred audience: Secondary school children, adults and persons with special needs. Background experiences: Colin has told at folk clubs and festivals, storytelling groups, community associations, therapeutic groups and religious bodies. (+44) 028 90 664691 (+44) 07712 633272

< Back Jack Lynch Adults, Children, Festivals, Special Needs Availability: Full time and is prepared to travel. Repertoire: Folk tales, myths, legends, tall tales and original material. Preferred audience: All ages, excluding pre-school children Background experience: Jack has much experience in schools, libraries, hospitals and prisons throughout Ireland. He works regularly in the National Museum at Collins Barracks and in Dublin psychiatric hospitals. He has been a regular teller at local arts festivals and at storytelling festivals – Cultra, Omagh, Scealta Shamhna, Slieve Bloom, Sperrins, and Courtmacsherry. Further afield he has appeared at Alden Biesen in Belgium, Sidmouth Folk Festival, The Orkney Folk Festival, Newcastle Irish Festival, The Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C. and the Illinois Storytelling and Education Programme. Jack has twice been the featured Irish storyteller at the Cape Clear Festival and at Gimistory in the Cayman Islands. He is a founder member of the Dublin Yarnspinners and of Storytellers of Ireland/ Aos Sceal Éireann. Since the passing of John Campbell, Jack has been working regularly with Len Graham. Jack is on the panel of the Poetry Ireland Writers in Schools Scheme. Contacts: Tel: Mobile: Email: Website: quighie@gmail.com http://www.jackstory.com (+353) 087 986 3902

Storytellers of Ireland is an all-island organisation dedicated to the support and promotion of storytelling. Our events page details festivals, regular storytelling sessions and once off storytelling events across the island. Storytelling Events If you have any event details or updates that you would like included please let us know by contacting Simone Schuemmelfeder. While we try to keep this page as up to date as possible we recommend you follow Storytellers of Ireland on Facebook also. Storytelling Festivals 5th to 7th September 2025 Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival / visit capeclearstorytelling.com for details Learn more 5th to 7th September 2025 visit capeclearstorytelling.com for details We are delighted to announce that this year's Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival will take place from 5th to the 7th September 2025. Storytelling Groups Second Monday of the Month Storytelling Circle Kilkenny / Please visit Facebook link Learn more Second Monday of the Month Please visit Facebook link Storytelling Circle Kilkenny meet once a month in the Billy Byrne pub, Kilkenny.
 All welcome. Monthly meet up The Gab Storytelling / Please visit Facebook link Learn more Monthly meet up Please visit Facebook link Cork based Storytelling community. Our staple is The Gab Mixtape, a monthly storytelling night. We look forward to welcoming you! Follow us on Facebook for more information on upcoming events. Third Wednesday of the month DLR LexIcon Yarnspinners / More info via link in description Learn more Third Wednesday of the month More info via link in description LexIcon, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin Third Wednesdays of the month from February 2023 - June 2023 First wednesday of the month YARN Storytelling Circle / www.mermaidartscentre.ie for details Learn more First wednesday of the month www.mermaidartscentre.ie for details Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co. Wicklow First Thursdays of the month. Cork Yarnspinners / See link to Facebook page Learn more First Thursdays of the month. See link to Facebook page We are Cork Yarnspinners, Cork's very own storytelling community. Join us live on first Thursdays of the month. 1st Friday of every month Tacumshane Storytelling / Olde School house, Tacumshane Learn more 1st Friday of every month Olde School house, Tacumshane Storytelling takes place on the 1st Friday of every month in the Olde School house, Tacumshane. Please contact fmccarron@hotmail.com Drumlin Yarnspinners / Please contact fmccarron@hotmail.com Learn more Please contact fmccarron@hotmail.com Please contact fmccarron@hotmail.com The Drumlin Yarnspinners meet ont he last Tuesday of the month in the Market House, Monaghan Town from 8pm to 10pm. Hosted by Francis McCarron. Please Visit www.armstory.org.uk Armstong Storytelling Trust - Tullycarnet, Lisburn & Bangor Carnegie Yarnspinners / Please Visit www.armstory.org.uk Learn more Please Visit www.armstory.org.uk Please Visit www.armstory.org.uk Libraries NI Yarnspinners are regular storytelling events supported by The Armstrong Storytelling Trust which take place in various libraries on a monthly basis.

< Back Tess (Terri) Ryan Adults, Festivals Availability: Full time resident on the Island of Ireland, available all year round Repertoire: Award winning Author and Storyteller. Terri writes most of her own original stories for performance on stage and dinner functions, by the fireside or bespoke groups of individuals. Terri also tells myths and legends weaving them into foraging workshops for adults that include the curative and medicinal properties of herbs. Preferred audience: Adults and Festivals Background experience: Terri comes from a rural town in the foothills of the Galtee Mountains. She grew up in Newmarket Square as part of the 4th generation to be reared there. It was where the Fair day was held on Thursdays, and stories poured into her Grandmothers Corner House in the Square, where stories were told and retold with great fondness and humour. Qualifying with a Science Degree and Higher Diploma in Education from University College Cork, Terri began life as a Science teacher before using her speciality in Botany and Herbs to join the corporate world of soft chemicals and become one of Ireland’s first senior female managers with a Multi National Giant. She also ran Start Your Own Business courses for 10 years. Mother of two grown up children and Author of 3 books Terri continues to write her own stories and Course Material. Now working as a full time storyteller, Terri has performed at Festivals, Dinner Functions, Libraries and Gatherings all over Ireland. Drawing on her childhood memories, her background as a teacher and experience as a senior Manager in the playground of Corporate Business Terri invites people to surf the wave of storytelling in bygone days and be transported back to the Corner Shop and Ballrooms and Schools of old. Be enchanted by the world of horses and the magic of horse racing Gay Future, and the Galway Races. Meet a bygone generation of Grandmother’s and Bachelors. Witness Murder in the Mountains, Ghosts in the Bog, true tales of a Teacher, and be catapulted into the contemporary world of corporate cowboys and boardroom wheeling and dealing. Her telling has been described as “captivating and full of depth, warmth and humour”. talesbytess@gmail.com (+353) 087 750 0059

< Back Sorcha Hegarty Adults, Children, Festivals Category: Adults; Children; Festivals Availability: Part time, is prepared to travel. Repertoire: Irish myth, legends and folktales Preferred Audience: Adults Background Experience: Sorcha has been researching and contemporising mythology with the Bard Summer School for several years, finding multiple versions of ancient stories and synthesizing them into an accessible, coherent whole. In 2014, she set up Candlelit Tales with her brother Aron to tell the stories of Irish mythology and folktales in cozy, informal settings, with acoustic musical backing. Sorcha has entertained audiences with her versions of these ancient tales from Knockanstockan Music Festival and Galway Theatre Festival to children's parties and old people's homes in Dublin. Sorcha is also a playwright and author of her own original stories, which often draw on mythological themes and archetypes. candlelit.tales@gmail.com (+353) 086 314 8740

< Back Colin Urwin Adults, Children, Festivals, Special Needs, Virtual Availability: Full time and prepared to travel anywhere. Repertoire: Myths, legends and folktales mainly, but not exclusively, from the northeast of Ireland. Songs both folk and original. Recitations and monologues. Reminiscence and humorous anecdotes. Background: Described as a modern-day Seanchaí Colin Urwin is a folk singer, songwriter, storyteller, workshop facilitator, recording artist and author. Steeped for a lifetime in the language, folklore and traditions of his beloved Glens of Antrim, Colin has long been influenced by traditional Irish and Scottish music, song and story. He is most inspired by the people and places, the history and legends, and the sheer rugged romance of the northeast coast of Ireland. From these he conjures up many of his beautiful ballads, magical rhyming monologues and delicately woven tales of wonder. Colin regularly appears at local storytelling and music events for schools, libraries, a wide range of community groups with differing needs, and has performed at international storytelling festivals and conferences all over the world. Colin’s storytelling and songwriting workshops, mentoring sessions and reminiscence programs are always very popular. Writing commissions are regularly accepted including songs, stories and books, and he has also worked as an artistic consultant and brand ambassador in the private sector. colin.urwin@yahoo.co.uk http://www.colinurwin.com (+44) 0751 971 5285

< Back Pat McAuliffe Adults Availability: Part time and is prepared to travel. Repertoire: Original stories (Humour). Preferred audience: Adults and secondary school students. Background experience: Pat has performed all over Ireland and England with the Rambling House. (+353) 063 98512 (+353) 086 256 6351

< Back Masako Carey Adults, Virtual, Children, Festivals, Special Needs Availability Full time resident on the Island of Ireland, available all year round in person or online. Repertoire Masako Carey tells stories in schools, libraries, and community venues with people of all ages and abilities. Her increasing repertoire of traditional Japanese tales includes those which are both comical and serious, and she also tells tales from around the world. Preferred audience Children , Adults , Festivals , Special Needs Background experience: Japanese-born Storyteller Masako Carey has lived in rural Co Antrim since 2001. Masako tells stories in schools, libraries, museums, and community venues with people of all ages and abilities. As a child, Masako always loved reading and watching animated Japanese folktale stories on TV. The influence of the world of animation, combined with her experience as a kindergarten teacher at an international school, gives Masako a unique storytelling style. Her increasing repertoire of traditional Japanese tales includes both comical and serious tales, and she also tells tales from around the world. She was a featured storyteller at Belfast Mela, the Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival, Glens of Antrim Storytelling Festival, Wicklow YARN Storytelling Festival, and Galway Moth & Butterfly International Festival of Storytelling and Improvisation. Masako also performs One Person Japanese story show ‘お話しOhanashi’. I tell stories appropriate to various age groups and abilities. For early age groups, more Interactive stories and activities are used. If there are some specific themes, I will be happy to incorporate them. This could include origami workshop, singing/movement activities, and group artwork. I am certified Level 3 Delivering Cultural Awareness Training Trainer and give one-hour Cultural Experience through PowerPoint presentation, storytelling, and origami demonstration (recommended age 7 and above). For older children and adults, I do Workshop about Hiroshima/Nagasaki and Atomic Bomb (recommended age 12 and above). This could include a story about a child Sadako, PowerPoint Presentation about the facts, making of origami Paper Crane, Group Peace Art, and calligraphy experience of writing Peace in Japanese (1h-4h) I am listed in Poetry of Island Writers in the school scheme. For schools, you could book me through this . masako@masakocarey.co.uk (+44) 0781 848 2776

< Back Madeline McCully Adults, Special Needs, Festivals, Children Availability Full time, prepared to travel nationally and internationally. Repertoire I tell Myths, Legends, folktales and historical. With special needs and Alzheimer’s audiences I use reminiscence stories to help them relate. I also play the autoharp with songs that can be used in all of these situations. Background experience: I was born and raised in Derry but spent much of my childhood in Donegal with a great- aunt who was a natural storyteller. I have a background in teaching, and facilitating creative writing workshops with cross-community and inter-generational emphasis, in schools, community centres, hospitals, theatre and prison. I am author of Derry Folk Tales, Haunted Derry, Haunted Antrim and Haunted Donegal and these stories are much in demand at Halloween. I received Arts Council Awards to tell stories in USA. I enjoy every kind of audience and tailor my stories and songs to give the best to each. madelinestoryteller@gmail.com http://www.derryghosts.com

< Back Simone Schuemmelfeder Adults, Children, Festivals, Special Needs Availability: Full time and travels nationally and internationally Repertoire: Simone creates storytelling experiences for adults and children that are a refreshing mixture of little-known folktales, local lore, world and wisdom tales as well as modern stories with a twist. Weaving tales from her own German background together with stories from many different cultures, Simone’s shows are a story-quilt to warm the heart, inspire and enchant. Background experience: Born close to the Fairy Tale Road in Germany which connects the locations of many tales the Brothers Grimm collected, Simone grew up surrounded by stories. When she moved to Ireland, she founded the storytelling theatre StoryGate ( www.storygate.net ) together with Irish teller and puppeteer Michael Phelan. She has performed extensively across Ireland and abroad in schools and libraries, at festivals and for various institutions, including the German Embassy in Dublin, the Goethe Institut Dublin, Kilkenny Arts Festival, the Mountains To Sea dlr Book Festival, Ghosts in the Glens Storytelling Festival and the Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival. Together with Michael, Simone offers a unique storytelling experience for children with their shows that combine storytelling and puppetry, science and creative writing. She trains both adults and children in storytelling and creative writing and runs Ireland’s only Writing group specifically for children’s book authors at the Irish Writers Centre in Dublin. Simone was Reader in Residence for Laois Libraries and Artist in Primary Schools for Tipperary Arts Office. She is a TAP (Teacher-Artist-Partnership) trained artist and member of Poetry Ireland’s Writers In Schools Scheme. She is a certified audiobook narrator and always on the look-out for a new story to learn. Her shows for adults are a refreshing blend of the old and the new, with folktales and modern stories, bridging generations and cultures to touch the listener’s heart with the oldest of all arts. storygate.ireland@gmail.com http://www.storygate.net

< Back Clare Muireann Murphy Adults, Children, Festivals Availability: Full time, Bristol based and prepared to travel. If travelling to Ireland, I'd prefer to come for more than one job/one day (to make it worth the travel). Repertoire: Irish Folk tales, myths and legends, wonder tales. World folktales and myths, original stories, wisdom stories, participation stories. Preferred audience: She performs with all ages from 3-99. Clare has given workshops on storytelling, intro to storytelling, communication skills, public speaking, performance skills. She has worked with scientists, academics, actors, storytellers, business, lawyers, bankers, charity workers, medical, veterans, and community groups. Background experience: Clare Muireann Murphy works fulltime as a storyteller, teacher, trainer and consultant. Born in Dublin, Clare has lived in Spain, Galway, America and London. Now based in Bristol, UK she has performed in more than 20 countries around the world. She has played world stages such as the National Theatre London, DramatikkenHuus Oslo, Out of the BOx festival Singapore. She has also played NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival, Cork and Jonesborough National Storytelling Festival USA. Her repertoire is rooted in Irish mythology and folklore, Clare also tells World Folklore, original stories, fables and anecdotes. Contacts: IG/Twitter: @StoryClare clare@claremurphy.org http://www.claremurphy.org (+44) 07825 423828