Deirdre Kinahan

Deirdre Kinahan is one of Ireland’s major contemporary playwrights. She writes about issues that affect modern Ireland as well as the issues that have clouded its past. She is a masterful, poetic writer, with a way with a phrase that just dazzles.’ The Slotkin Letter, Canada, Review.

An award-winning playwright, Deirdre is a member of Aosdána, Ireland’s elected affiliation of outstanding artists. She collaborates with artists and theatres all over the world, is literary associate to Meath County Council and has a large canon of regularly produced plays to her credit. Deirdre’s plays have been translated into many languages. She is published by Nick Hern Books.

Recent works include The Saviour for Landmark Productions & Irish Repertory Theatre NYC 2023, An Old Song Half Forgotten for the Abbey Theatre & Sofft productions 2023, TEMPESTA Glassmask Theatre/Cork Midsummer Festival 2024, Bloody Yesterday for GlassMask 2022, In the Middle of the Fields for Solas Nua Washington DC 2021, The Visit for Draíocht & Dublin Theatre festival 2021/22, Rathmines Road for the Abbey Theatre & Fishamble 2018 and her Irish Revolutionary Triology (written as part of the national commemorations) – OUTRAGE/EMBARGO/WILD SKY.

As well as REFUGE, Deirdre has a number of new theatre projects premiering in 2026; ADRIFT for NOMAD Touring Network, The Homecoming of Joseph Grace for Cork Midsummer Festival & Pavilion Theatre, and EXILE for Meath County Council & Dublin Port. She is also under commission to Landmark Productions, An Taibhdhearc and Fishamble. She has years of experience as a producer and enjoys curating or participating in multi-genre artistic projects for Meath County Council and other national festivals/events.

Representation: Emily Hickman at The Agency London.