Loah
Loah is Sallay Matu Garnett, a singer songwriter of Sierra Leonean / Irish origin who grew up between Maynooth and West Africa. While in college she collaborated with future members of Little Green Cars and Kíla. She also contributed to Hozier's platinum selling debut album, co-writing the song Someone New, for which they won a BMI songwriting award. Loah performed at the recent Barbican concert produced by the National Concert Hall - Imagining Ireland - 21st Century Song.
John McAuliffe
John McAuliffe is a Poet based in Manchester. He grew up in Listowel, studied English and Law at NUI Galway and in addition to his writing, now teaches poetry at the University of Manchester's Centre for New Writing, which he founded and co-directs. His books are published by The Gallery Press and include A Better Life (2002) which was shortlisted for a Forward Prize, Next Door (2007) and Of All Places (2011) which was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. In 2013, a selection of his work was published in the US as part of Wake Forest UP's Introductions to Irish Poetry series. He is appearing as part of the Poets in the Cities tour of GB presented by Poetry Ireland later in 2018.
About Culture Ireland GB 18: Promoting Irish Artists in Britain
Culture Ireland's special focus of Irish artistic activity in Britain in 2018. GB18 is a vibrant, contemporary and high quality programme that includes a range of work from all artistic disciplines including architecture, dance, film, literature, music, theatre, opera and visual arts in high-profile venues, institutions and festivals in Britain. Culture Ireland GB18 builds on Ireland's special history and relationship with its nearest neighbour and follows the successes of previous programme strands (Imagine Ireland in 2011, Culture Connects across the EU in 2013, I Am Ireland as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme). This new initiative will create unique opportunities for artists and companies in all artforms to perform across Britain and develop new audiences and their networks of contacts. Culture Ireland GB18 works will be seen in more than two dozen cities around Britain including, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, , Cheltenham, Chester, Dundee, Edinburgh, Fishguard, Glasgow, St. Helen's, Ipswich, Liverpool, London, Ludlow, Manchester, Paisley, Southampton, Reading, Rye, St. Andrews and Warwick.
About Culture Ireland
Founded in 2005, Culture Ireland - part of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht - works to generate international opportunities for Irish artists and supports Irish artists as they gain global contracts and develop their careers. In 2017, Culture Ireland reached 3.5 million live audience members and 7 million online viewers through the 450 Culture Ireland supported events presented in over 50 countries by Irish artists.