Speakers & Performers

James Bradshaw

James is a writer who frequently contributes to publications including Position Papers, which is a literary review publication which provides an intelligent analysis of the most culturally relevant books being published in Ireland and around the world. His work on societal issues has also appeared in leading outlets at home and internationally such as The Irish Independent, The Sunday Independent and The European Conservative. James's professional background spans the worlds of politics, public policy and corporate communications. One of his key research interests in recent times has been the work of the late writer and philosopher Desmond Fennell (1929-2021), who focused attention on the issues of nationality, community and self-government throughout his long career.

Kenneth Egan

Kenneth Egan is a local Clondalkin man, born and bred. He has lived in this area all his life. He had been a member of Neilstown Boxing Club for over 20 years and has travelled the world in his previous profession as a High Performance Athlete representing Ireland. He has competed in over 50 countries on International duty; the pinnacle was winning an Olympic silver medal in Beijing, China 2008. Kenneth has always maintained that home is where the heart is. He has spoke openly about his struggle with alcohol and the destruction it caused in his life. Kenneth has 16 years of Recovery behind him and is a prominent advocate for health and Well-Being. He attends a number of speaking engagements all over the country and has travelled to Europe to speak on various topics such as High Performance and Well-Being. He is a practising Psychotherapist in his hometown of Clondalkin village. He has built up a great connection with many different communities and clubs throughout Clondalkin and is still quite active within the local area.

Dr Brian Griffin

Brian is an adjunct associate professor in the history department of Maynooth University. Specialising in the social history of Ireland in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, he has a particular interest in policing, crime, sport (especially cycling) and Percy French. Recent publications include articles on RIC barracks as domestic spaces, Irish women and football in the First World War, the Aztecs in Ulysses and the bicycle in the Irish revolutionary period 1913-1921. He is currently exploring a number of projects on the social and cultural history of Ireland in the Great War. His most recent book is Crime and the Criminal Classes in Ireland, 1870-1920 (Cork University Press, 2024).

Dr Mark Henry

Mark is the author of the best-selling book In Fact: An Optimist’s Guide to Ireland at 100 – an unapologetically positive telling of the story of Ireland’s progress. As a regular media commentator, he provides a “rationally optimistic” take on the state of the country today and its possible future. Mark’s next book will explore national happiness and well-being and what we can learn from some of the happiest (and unhappiest) countries in the world. Mark works in Technological University Dublin as the Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, and holds an MA in psychology from University College Dublin, an MBA from Smurfit Business School, and a PhD in history from the University of Westminster.

John McGuirk

John is one of Ireland's best known conservative journalists and commentators. He is lead opinion writer at Statement.com, co-host of the well-known "Something Different" podcast with Sarah Ryan, and a regular speaker and commentator in the media. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Critic, The Daily Telegraph, and other international publications. From 2019 he was Founding Editor at Gript Media. In addition to his journalism he is well-known for having worked on several high profile referendum campaigns in Ireland, most prominently the Lisbon referenda of 2008 and 2009, and the abortion referendum of 2018. He lives in County Tipperary with his wife, Orla, and their cocker spaniel, Izzy.

Gretta Mohan

Gretta Mohan is a Research Officer in Economic Analysis at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin. Her current research spans health and digital technologies, with a current focus on the economics of mental health, loneliness, suicide behaviours and self-harm.

In 2026 she was elected to the Young Academy of Ireland at the Royal Irish Academy and was the 2025 Barrington Medal awardee, recognising her as a promising young economist and social scientist.

Marie Louise O'Donnell

Marie Louise O Donnell is an educator, broadcaster, writer, performer, director, public speaker and former senator. Marie Louise has lectured extensively in Ireland, Europe and the USA in Education, Irish Drama, Irish Culture and Language. Marie Louise has presented programmes on television and radio and is a regular reviewer and media contributor. For 10 years, she worked weekly as a colour radio writer and reporter on RTE Today with Pat Kenny and Today with Sean O’Rourke shows. In 2011, she was appointed to the Senate by the then Taoiseach Enda Kenny. In 2019 she published her first book Irish Working Lives. In 2023 She was awarded a PhD fellowship by TU Dublin to study the work of the writer John McGahern.

Sarah Ryan

Sarah Ryan is a criminal defence barrister practising from the Law Library, Dublin, with a practice in criminal and family law.

A former elected councillor, Sarah is a regular media commentator on legal, political and social affairs, and co-hosts Something Different with John and Sarah, an independent podcast with a large and engaged Irish audience. She brings a practitioner’s perspective to policy and public debate.

Sarah lives in Malahide with her husband, three children, and two dogs.

Maria Steen

Maria Steen is married with five children, ranging in age from 19 to four years. She studied Architecture in University College Dublin and worked in an architectural practice before qualifying as a barrister and practising at the Bar. After the birth of her children, she withdrew from practice to educate them at home, and qualified as a Montessori teacher. Since 2012, she has been a writer and commentator on cultural and political matters, appearing in the pages of the Irish Times, the Sunday Independent, the Sunday Times and the Irish Catholic, and on television and radio. She has participated in several constitutional referenda, and has debated the leaders of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Fein, and Labour. Last year she sought nomination in the Presidential election, narrowly missing out after having obtained 18 of the required 20 Oireachtas signatures for nomination.

Deputy Peadar Toibín

Peadar Tóibín was first elected as a TD for the Meath West constituency at the 2011 general election. Peadar Tóibín was a business consultant before being elected as a TD. He holds a degree in Economics and Politics from University College Dublin (UCD) and a Postgrad in Enterprise Studies from the Michael Smurfit School of Business. He served as Deputy mayor in Navan and is widely known for spearheading the Save Navan Hospital Campaign to protect regional healthcare services. Peadar was one of the main campaigners for the right to life in the 2018 referendum on the 8th amendment. Shortly afterwards he left Sinn Féin and founded Aontú. Aontú is the fastest growing political party in Ireland, north and south. Aontú achieved the highest increase in votes in the last election and currently has 13 elected reps. Aontú has 2,500 members and won 100,000 votes in the last elections. The party campaigns on commonsense values, economic justice, accountability, proper spatial development and Irish Unity. Peadar also played a leading roll in opposing the 2024 ‘Carers’ and ‘Mothers in the Constitution’ referendum. Peadar is married to Deirdre and is a father of four, Fionn, Eoghan, Siún and Senan. He has a love of the Irish language, history and hiking. He is a keen food produce gardener and makes his own cider.

Paul Healy

Paul grew up in Rooskey, Co. Roscommon. Having previously worked for the Longford Leader and Longford News, he spent 16 years as Editor of the Roscommon Champion, before launching the Roscommon People with his wife, Fiona, in 2007, and is its Managing Editor. For many years he edited the Roscommon Association Yearbook. He is author of five books to date, on subjects ranging from sport to politics to social history. He is an occasional contributor to Phoenix magazine.

Michael Banahan

Over the last thirty-plus-years, Michael is possibly best known as a manager and promoter and in doing so bringing some amazing music to the live scene of the North Midlands and on the opposite fence being the facilitator for attracting attention to the music of this Irish region also. Over the years Michael has worked with many greats, including Eleanor Shanley, Sharon Shannon, Charlie McGettigan, Mick Hanly, Paul Brady, Christy Moore, Sean Keane, Luka Bloom, Ultan Conlon and Ralph McTell, amongst many, many others; some of whom, to Michael’s humility and huge gratitude have already offered beautiful thoughts on this new album. Based in Roscommon, this talented multi-instrumentalist brings a wealth of experience both onstage and behind the scenes. His previous releases include, Liftin’ of the Latch, Tecumseh Valley, The Baileys (a collection of Irish ballads), and extensive performances across Europe and North America; both as a solo artist and as founding member of critically acclaimed traditional/folk collective Rig The Jig, with whom he recorded five albums. Still, no previous achievement quite captures the personal significance of Broken Heart. To say Michael is proud is an understatement; this album of original work represents a deeply meaningful milestone in his musical journey.

Col Ceathair

Maria Henderson, 17, plays trombone, harpsichord, and piano. She has won first prizes at the Feis Ceoil, Arklow Music Festival, and Feis Maitiú and is the 2025 Foróige’s Got Talent national champion. She is a member of the Dublin Youth Orchestra, Blanchardstown Brass Band, and TU Dublin Concert Band, and enjoys playing a wide repertoire that includes classical, popular, and jazz music. Cecilia Henderson, 15, is a singer, organist, and harpist. With the Piccolo Lasso choir, she performed at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, Westminster Cathedral, London, and San Gaetano, Florence. She has won first prizes at the Leinster Fleadh, Feis Ceoil and Arklow Music Festival. She also studies speech and drama and voices Kiva on the popular animated series Kiva Can Do on RTEjr and Nick Jr. Isabella Henderson, 11, loves to sing many types of music, including traditional Irish, popular and classical. She won the U12 Lilting competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2024 and has won prizes for singing and poetry recitation at Feis Maitiú, Feis Ceoil, and the Kilcoole Music Festival. She also plays bodhrán and drums. Kevin Finnerty Jnr, 15, is currently attending St Vincent’s Castleknock College as a third-year student. He is a member of St Vincent’s Castleknock College choir and in 2021, won Feis Ceoil Gold Medal for singing. Kevin has won numerous first prizes for singing and poetry recitation at Kilcoole Music Festival and Feis Maitiu. He is a former member of the Piccolo Lasso choir, and has performed at the National Concert Hall. Kevin plays guitar, harp, piano, and drums.

Tommy McDermott

Tommy's love of Percy French began from hearing his father singing Percy French songs at home as a child. As the years went on, he became more interested in Percy's life. During Tommy's years at Bishop Hudson Grammar School in Elphin, his Headmaster Cannon Slack encouraged him to get to know about the talent which was Percy French and the class used to sing his songs. Since those years he has performed several Percy French recitals across Ireland. Tommy has been involved with the Percy French Festival at Castlecoote House for many years. Since joining the Roscommon Solstice Choir in 2013 he has spread his Percy French repertoire further afield to England and the USA. More recently, in 2023 Tommy took part in a Documentary by TG4 namely, Percy French: Siúlach Scéalach, which has become very popular in the last couple of years. One of the highlights of Tommy's life to date was visiting French's final resting place in Formby north of Liverpool. Here the Roscommon Solstice Choir gave a full Percy French recital which was aired on Irish TV in Britain. After the recital Tommy visited the house of Cannon Richardson, French's cousin, where Percy went when he became ill and where he passed away. This proved to be an emotional and enjoyable visit for those involved and one where all felt very welcomed by the local Vicar, who hailed from Northern Ireland. Thankfully Tommy still receives many phone calls requesting Percy French performances and he is always more than happy to oblige.

Paul Mcdonald

Paul, a regular attendee at the festival since its inception, and to everyone’s delight regales his unique rendering of Percy French songs. He was a long-time follower of Brendan O’Dowda, and his Percy French songs. A choral singer all his life and was a member of the RTE Philharmonic Choir for 40 years. Paul is a member of the North Down Percy French Society and The Bohemians Music Club in Dublin for many years.