2026 Folk:Lure  Artists in Residence

Medbh Gillard

Miriam Needham

Medbh Gillard is a visual artist living and working in County Sligo. Originally from County Galway, her work is shaped by an interest in heritage, folklore, wildlife and the quiet histories of people and place. She works across drawing, collage and photography, often combining visual art with historical research. Alongside her studio practice she works on creative projects with schools and communities. Her work has been shown in Ireland and internationally and is held in public and private collections.

Miriam Needham is a writer and theatre-maker from Sligo whose work spans short fiction, theatre, and community collaboration. Her stories have been published in The Stinging Fly, Banshee, and HOWL, while her plays have been produced at festivals and theatres nationwide. Her writing has been recognised by the Dingle Lit Short Story Competition, the Cúirt New Writing Prize, and the Edinburgh Short Story Award. In 2024, she was selected for the Irish Writers Centre National Mentoring Programme. Alongside her writing practice, she works as a facilitator, supporting communities to co-create original artistic work.