Donegal Irish-language writer awarded €30,000 Arts Council residency in DCU

An east Donegal woman has been announced as a recipient of the Arts Council Irish-language Writer in Residence at Dublin City University.

Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha was born in Calhame, Ballindrait, and now lives in the Conamara Gaeltacht and has been awarded €30,000.

She is a young, up-and-coming writer who specialises in contemporary Irish-language poetry, a subject for which she was awarded a PhD in 2025. Her first published collection is Solas Geimhridh agus Dánta Eile (Barzaz, 2023) and her second, Mainistir na Feola (Barzaz, 2025) appeared recently.

She is currently working on two other projects: Éiric na Seirce (a retelling of the ninth-century text Comracc Líadaine ocus Cuirithir) agus Baile an Eibhir (which looks at contemporary Gaeltacht life from the perspective of ‘The Outsider’). She plans to advance both projects during her residency with DCU.

Laoighseach is one of 12 new artists joining an additional 10 awardees who took up residencies in Children and Young People’s Arts across seven Higher Education Institutions at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year. 

These awards, which are jointly funded by the Arts Council and partner universities, provide artists with dedicated workspaces and vital finances to develop their work, acquire resources and further Ireland’s vibrant creative scene. 

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This year, 12 artists across seven universities will benefit from this flagship programme. Their upcoming work will reflect the diversity and richness of Ireland’s creative landscape, with programmes spanning English and Irish-language Literature, Film, Digital Arts and Traditional Arts.   

The Artists in Residencies programme is a cornerstone of the Arts Council’s commitment to fostering artistic excellence and enriching educational environments. The successful applicants will take up their positions in early 2026. 

 Maura McGrath, Chair of the Arts Council, congratulated the successful applicants:  “As Chair of the Arts Council, I am delighted to congratulate the new Artists in Residence across our universities. These programmes support artists to deepen their practice while bringing fresh creative energy into teaching, research and campus life. By connecting students and staff with professional artists, they spark new ideas and show how creativity can enrich every discipline. We are very grateful to our university partners for their ongoing commitment to these residencies.”  

Altogether, the total investment from the Arts Council for all residency programmes at third-level institutions in 2026 is €417,000. Partner universities have together contributed €105,000, bringing the combined investment to €522,000 – over half a million euros.