Every now and then, a voice comes along which demands to be heard. Emmet Kirwan, who graduate from Theatre Studies and Acting in 2001, has carved his voice into the Irish psyche, representing us on a stage even bigger than the ones in theatre. Kirwan has many acting credits under his belt, on film, stage and television. He first gained national attention in 2009 on RTE2 comedy show, Sarah and Steve, which he also co-wrote. More recently, Kirwan has come to prominence as a writer. His first full-length play Dublin Oldschool, inspired by his formative experiences growing-up in Tallaght, won the prestigious Stewart Parker award in 2014, and is currently touring Ireland before a stint at the National Theatre in London.

While theatre is where he is most prolific, his recent short films in collaboration with director Dave Tynan (who worked on We Face This Land, a 2016 short film made for REPEAL project) have been making waves online. Just Saying speaks for all 20-somethings living in Dublin, while Heartbreak, released this month, chronicles the life of a single mother in contemporary Ireland, ending with a plea for the state to Repeal the 8th, and treat “all mná” with respect, dignity and autonomy. Heartbreak was commissioned as part of Riot!, the Thisispopbaby show which received acclaim at the 2016 Tiger Dublin Fringe Festival. His use of spoken-word poetry is captivating, comforting, and feels like a catalyst for the change in this country which so many of us crave. Kirwan’s voice is honest, real, brave and one to look out for as it projects into 2017.

 

Just Saying (2012)

 

Heartbreak (2017)