Aosdána welcomes four new creative members
Aosdána has expanded its ranks by electing four distinguished artists and writers at its recent General Assembly. The new members, spanning visual arts, choreography, and literature, enhance the collective's rich cultural landscape across Ireland.
Source:
Arts Council
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⏱️ 2 min read
Aosdána, Ireland’s esteemed association of creative artists, has announced the election of four new members during its 44th General Assembly held at the Law Society of Ireland in Blackhall Place. This latest induction increases the total membership to 249, reinforcing Aosdána’s role in celebrating artistic excellence across the nation.
The newly elected members include Ailbhe Ní Bhriain, a visual artist from County Clare known for her evocative installations and film work that explore dreamlike hybridity. Ní Bhriain holds an MA from the Royal College of Art, London, and a PhD from Kingston University. Her work has gained international acclaim with exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the RHA Dublin, Whitechapel Gallery London, and Istanbul Modern. She was honoured with the Golden Fleece Award in 2020 and was shortlisted for representing Ireland at the Venice Biennale.
Joining her is Oona Doherty, a Northern Irish choreographer and performer celebrated for her innovative dance productions including the award-winning Hope Hunt and the Ascension into Lazarus and Hard to Be Soft – A Belfast Prayer. Doherty’s dynamic collaborations with prominent artists and her accolades, such as the Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale, highlight her significant contribution to contemporary choreography. Visual artist Jackie McKenna, recognised for her socially engaged large-scale outdoor sculptures and community-focused projects, and poet Mark Roper, a long-time resident of Ireland with an extensive body of poetry and literary collaborations, complete the new cohort. The Assembly also paid tribute with a minute’s silence to former Aosdána members Margaretta D’Arcy, Anne Madden, Richard Gorman, Gabriel Rosenstock, and Vincent Browne, who passed away since the previous gathering in September 2025.
The newly elected members include Ailbhe Ní Bhriain, a visual artist from County Clare known for her evocative installations and film work that explore dreamlike hybridity. Ní Bhriain holds an MA from the Royal College of Art, London, and a PhD from Kingston University. Her work has gained international acclaim with exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the RHA Dublin, Whitechapel Gallery London, and Istanbul Modern. She was honoured with the Golden Fleece Award in 2020 and was shortlisted for representing Ireland at the Venice Biennale.
Joining her is Oona Doherty, a Northern Irish choreographer and performer celebrated for her innovative dance productions including the award-winning Hope Hunt and the Ascension into Lazarus and Hard to Be Soft – A Belfast Prayer. Doherty’s dynamic collaborations with prominent artists and her accolades, such as the Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale, highlight her significant contribution to contemporary choreography. Visual artist Jackie McKenna, recognised for her socially engaged large-scale outdoor sculptures and community-focused projects, and poet Mark Roper, a long-time resident of Ireland with an extensive body of poetry and literary collaborations, complete the new cohort. The Assembly also paid tribute with a minute’s silence to former Aosdána members Margaretta D’Arcy, Anne Madden, Richard Gorman, Gabriel Rosenstock, and Vincent Browne, who passed away since the previous gathering in September 2025.
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