HYBRID
FEIS 2026

Annette Redmond. A.L.S.M.D. L.L.S.M.D

Since receiving her Licentiate from the Leinster School of Music & Drama, Annette has acquired vast experience as a teacher of Speech & Drama, an external examiner of grade exams for Leinster School of Music and Drama, and Adjudicator of Feiseanna throughout Ireland.

An interest in Drama in Education led to further study at Trinity College and a subsequent position at Lismullin National School, Navan. In her ten years in the Primary School Sector Annette provided support for teachers in the classroom implementing curriculum development and a whole school programme for Drama, and in service support for teachers in the classroom.

At Post Primary level Annette spent many years in St. Mary`s Diocesan School Drogheda, where she devised a transition year module in Communication and Public Speaking. As a supporter of Soroptimists Ireland ,she has been an adjudicator at their Annual Public Speaking Competition.

Currently, Annette is an external examiner for the Leinster School of Music and Drama, and a tutor on their Licentiate programme . She works as a drama educator, passing on skills to trainee teachers and providing mentorship and support as they embark on their careers as speech and drama specialists. She recently delivered a Guest Lecture on poetic form at Griffith College as part of the Higher Diploma in Drama in Arts Education.

Annette is delighted to be invited back to adjudicate. She hopes to imbue her love of poetry and drama, and provide positive feedback, and encourage all competitors in the Speech and Drama Teachers Feis 2026.

EMER CASEY 

A native of Derry, Emer lived and worked in Dublin most of her adult life before moving to County Clare in recent years.  She is an honours English graduate of Trinity College and also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education from Queen’s University Belfast.  She holds both Associate and Licentiate Teaching Diplomas in Speech and Drama from the Royal Irish Academy.  She is also an alumni of the Michael Chekhov International Academy (Berlin) where she completed her Advanced Actor & Facilitator Certification.

Over the years, she has taught hundreds of children and young adults speech and drama both as an in-school drama teacher and in her own drama school.  She has produced and directed countless student shows, plays and musicals. She was also the founder and Artistic Director of the award-winning Mr. Sands Youth Theatre in Bray, Co. Wicklow. 

Emer is a senior examiner with the Irish Board of Speech and Drama, a frequent adjudicator at feiseanna around the country and a member and past board member of the Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland and Youth Theatre Ireland.

Emer is also a professional Theatre and Screen actor and VO artist and is represented by Frontline Actors Agency.

Emma English began her musical education in C.J. Kickham Brass Band, Tipperary, where her chosen instrument was trumpet. She began her vocal training under Sr. Peter Cronin at NUI Maynooth while pursuing an Honours B.Mus. degree, with which she was conferred in 1997. Emma received a Graduate Diploma in Music Technology from DIT Conservatory of Music in 1998 and was awarded a Fellowship in Classical Vocal recital by London College of music in 2008. She has studied extensively under Ms. Marie Walshe, Cratloe, Co. Clare, and has taken masterclasses with Ms. Barbara Bonney, Professor of Vocal Studies, Mozarteum, Salzburg. 

Emma's performance repertoire includes a diverse catalogue of work, including opera, operetta, sacred music, oratorio, musical theatre, lieder, chanson, and English art song.  She has performed in all these genres and has been a featured soloist on RTE radio and television, which is the national broadcaster of Ireland. She has previously travelled on concert tours to Slovenia, Italy, Sardinia and Istanbul. 

Emma is head of Vocal Studies and Opera at Limerick School of Music, where she has taught for over 20 years. She has used her own performance experience and wealth of knowledge to train hundreds of students in this time, all of whom have gained qualifications from the ABRSM. She teaches from eight years old to adults, from beginners to professional qualifications. She has recently directed and produced a contemporary opera for the school. 

Emma also teaches vocal technique to the Monks of Glenstal Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in County Limerick. 

Frances Radic is a qualified Speech and Drama teacher, having trained with the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Speech and Drama and Public Speaking.

With over 30 years of experience, Frances has successfully established and run a Speech and Drama school across multiple locations in North Wicklow. She has worked with students of all ages and abilities, from preschool children to diploma level candidates, fostering confidence, communication skills, and a love of performance.

In addition to her private teaching practice, Frances has contributed to the formal education sector by delivering drama modules within schools, as well as providing one-to-one coaching in public speaking.

Frances currently serves as an examiner with the Royal Irish Academy of Music and is also an experienced Feis adjudicator. She has played an active role in the professional community, having spent many years on the Board of the Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland, where she held the positions of Treasurer and Chairperson.

Maeve O’Donoghue trained in Dublin at the Brendan Smith Theatre Academy and the Leinster School of Music and Drama.  She has Licentiates from The Leinster School and the Guildhall School in London.   During a 45 year teaching career at her drama school,VoiceWorks, she prepared students for examinations from Junior Grades up to Licentiate Diploma and for participation in Speech & Drama Festivals.  Many of her past students are now pursuing careers in theatre and the arts. 

Maeve has facilitated several Drama Workshops and Master Classes for teachers and drama students and has written two theory workbooks – Theory Made Easy and Theory in Practice.  She is an examiner with the Leinster School and, as a member of the British and International Federation of Festivals, has adjudicated extensively in Ireland, the U.K., Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong.   Maeve is delighted to have been invited to adjudicate the live finals of the Speech & Drama Teachers of Ireland Feis 2026 and wishes all performers, their teachers, their parents and families a very positive and enjoyable experience here today.   

Biographical Note: Dr Marian McCarthy

PhD, M Ed, BA, HDE, DETE, LTCL (Performance), ALAM, LTCL (Teacher’s), IDTA (Artiste), ISSoTL (Fellow).

Dr Marian McCarthy is a former Vice President for Teaching and Learning at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland, and senior lecturer and retired director of its Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning. She has lectured globally, including in South America, China, Asia, USA, Russia, Europe and the Middle East.  She has won several awards for teaching in the field of higher education and is a Fellow of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSoTL). 

Marian was privileged to have a well-rounded education in the arts, including ballet, speech, drama and music. She did her advanced speech training at the Cork School of Music and has several diplomas in Speech and Drama in the areas of performance, teaching and recital work.  She also directed her own school of Speech and Drama for many years and is an experienced director. She has an international profile in the field of educational drama and was invited to provide lectures and workshops at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, in the field of educational drama, working at Harvard’s Project Zero as summer faculty, from 1997-2007. She has also provided such workshops for the Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland. 

Marian is a member of the Board of Feis Maitiu Corcaigh for many years and has local and international experience as an adjudicator in the field of Speech and Drama. She is very much looking forward to the online and live festival of the Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland and wishes all performers every success.  

Mary Whelan Fox studied  Speech and Drama and graduated with Leinster School of Music and Drama in Griffith College Dublin. She received the Academic Award for her Licentiate Diploma.  She subsequently teaches in the primary and secondary school  sector in the Midlands, along with her own private  business. Mary has been teaching students as an afterschool activity in Athlone and surrounding areas for over 20 years. 

Her work includes facilitating workshops, mentor training, and public speaking courses for secondary schools. She lectures adults for teaching Associate and Licentiate Diploma Qualifications with all the leading boards. She also  completed a Leadership and  Life/ Business Coaching Diploma along with Practice  Ethics QQI Level 6 Certificate. 

  Mary is a examiner for Leinster School of Drama, and has adjudicated  at  many Festivals/Feisenanna throughout Ireland including Feile Luimnigh, Feis Shligigh, Feis Maithu, Arklow Music Festival,Feis Fermanagh and Derry,  and is delighted to be back sharing her experience with Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland. Mary is a past Director, Chairperson  and honorary life member of Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland having  served on the board for 7 years. 

nicky@lumenvirtual.com | www.LumenVirtual.com | LinkedIn

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Nicky is a Certified Online Business Manager® and the founder of Lumen Virtual, where she helps businesses create structure, clarity and calm through streamlined systems, processes and behind-the-scenes operational support. 

For Feis 2026, she supported the event as our Online Coordinator, managing the online application process and helping everything run smoothly behind the scenes. 

With a strong background in operations, project coordination and digital systems, she enjoys supporting ambitious ideas in coming to life in an organised and efficient way.

Web: www.lumenvitual.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoladevereux/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LumenVirtualOBM

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LumenVirtualOBM

Siobhan Cassidy , retired secondary teacher of English and Music. As an educator for 38years Siobhan has taught poetry to Junior and Leaving Cert level. She has worked on school musicals both as Musical Director and Producer. Siobhan has facilitated creative writing workshops for young people and adults. She set up a local group to foster creativity, connection and confidence where adults share and discuss poetry. During Covid Siobhan set up a daily poetry group which culminated in a Poetry Book. “Pandemic and Poetry “. Siobhan remains passionate about encouraging others to read write and enjoy poetry. 

Sophie Coyle is a Dundalk-based community artist, illustrator and musician. Originally from Galway
city she studied Illustration in both Rome and Dublin. Coyle has been building her practise as
community artist in Dundalk since 2011 and holds a certificate in Youth Arts from the National
Youth Council of Ireland. She has worked as artist-in-residence at the Dundalk Youth Centre using
her interest in graphic novels and comic books as tools for helping young people tell their stories.

During a three month residency at An Táin Arts Centre in March 2025 she began developing a sto-
ry for a graphic novel entitled “The Stray Sod”.

More recently Coyle was engaged as illustrator on the Decade of Centenaries book, “Sorcha
Queen of the Castle,” written by Nicola Cassidy, and as artist-designer on two tapestry projects
with both An Tain Arts Centre and Creative Spark in association with the Newry, Down, Mourne
District Council and created the artwork for her second album “Cuentista” released in 2024.
Coyle draws a regular cartoon of family life for her Instagram page which can been seen here:
https://www.instagram.com/sophiecoyleillustration/?hl=en

Ailbhe Murphy is a professional speech & drama teacher, examiner, and adjudicator. She is a graduate of University College Dublin and holds a Licentiate Teaching Diploma in Speech & Drama from the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM).

Ailbhe has been an examiner with RIAM for many years both for the RIAM exam centre, examining grade exams throughout Ireland, and the most senior Diploma Level exams. Ailbhe was appointed as the Chief Examiner with RIAM in 2019 and has played a vital role in developing their new Drama & Communications syllabus and Spotlight awards. 

During her career, Ailbhe has worked with the Royal Irish Academy of Music, The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, Young Actors Programme in New York and in a variety of independent roles.  She has been involved in a broad range of stage productions as an actor / stage manager / director / set designer and has worked as professional voice coach on stage and film productions. 

Some of Ailbhe’s voice and movement training includes work with Kevin Crawford at both Trinity College and The Roy Hart Centre. Singing and voice work with Paul Keenan. Voice training workshops with Patsy Rodenburg, Mime workshops with Rowan Tully and Method Acting with Bill Balzac.

Timothy McCarthy studied Speech & Drama at the Cork School of Music; graduated from the National University of Ireland with an M.A. Degree in Drama and Theatre Studies and the Higher Diploma in Education; he holds the Post Graduate Certificate in Adjudicating.

In his professional life as a Speech and Drama practitioner, Timothy works in a number of spheres and capacities.  He runs his own Speech & Drama Studio, where he teaches all aspects of the subject.  He is a member of the examiners panel in Speech, Drama and Communication at Trinity College, London and is the Director of Cork Feis Maitiú – the Music and Drama Festival in his home City.  

For 18 years he was the Drama Director at the annual International Youth Camp Festival of Music, Dance and Drama, Sri Lanka.  He conducted Teacher Training Courses in Speech & Drama in Kuala Lumpur, Colombo and at his own Studio in Cork; led workshops for English teachers in Thailand, Malaysa and Sri Lanka using Speech & Drama pedagogy as a means of teaching English; and gave Choral Speaking Workshops for teachers in Hong Kong.  He directed an Adult Drama Company for ten years.  During the pandemic crises he worked extensively online and led teacher training webinars.

Timothy is an Adjudicator-Member and Adjudicators Honorary Vice-President of the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech; the membership application secretary of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama and a member of Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland.  In 2011 he was awarded the Federation of Festivals Fellowship for services to the Festival Movement and in 2023 the Federation’s 40 Years long term service award for his work at Cork Feis Maitiú.