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Audrey Anderson, MIA, is an honours graduate of the Academy. She graduated from The National University of Ireland, Maynooth with BA (hons) degree in English Literature & Sociology. She also holds a Higher Diploma in Arts Administration from U.C.D. She moved to live in Oslo in February and most of that time has been spent settling her young son into playschool (barnehage) and attending Norwegian classes. She has been keeping up with events back home by regularly logging on to the news websites. The main focus, however, is one newsworthy stories in Norway and Scandinavia generally.
She is also working part-time as an "Innleser" reading, recording and editing books for the blind in the library for the blind. She has just completed Angela's Ashes. However, she would like to begin some freelance writing and has written some pieces which are still in the formative stage.

Ger Byrne, MIA, is a graduate of the Irish Academy’s Diploma in Journalism course in addition to being an online tutor and former external examiner for the Academy.
A native of Cork and a keen soccer fan, in 1998, he was editor of Cork City Football Club’s match programme, entitled City News. He also wrote regularly for The Cork Leader on an expenses-only basis and also contributed occasional articles to Phoenix magazine.
In February 2005 he established, with a friend, Third Pond Media, to publish a new Munster-based monthly soccer magazine entitled Munster Soccer, which went on sale in early April.
He also works as a part-time freelance journalist, contributing mainly speculative articles to both local and national publications, while holding down a full-time job in the retail trade, which he’d like to leave!

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Manuela Dei Grandi, MIA. I'm Italian national but living in Stradbally, Co. Kerry, and currently working as a photographer for the Kerryman in North Kerry. After four years of training as photographer in Cork City and having achieved my Diploma in Journalism with the Irish Academy, I'd love to combine my photography with the writing.

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Tara Farrell, MIA, holds a BA in English, Sociology and Politics from the National University of Ireland, Galway, an MA in European Integration from the University of Limerick and a Diploma in Journalism from The Irish Academy. She has worked in the Community & Voluntary sector in Waterford and Tallaght and is now a cross border development worker in Drogheda, where she is also responsible for the company’s public relations. She is currently studying for an LLM in Human Rights Law in Queens University Belfast. While travelling around the world in 1999 and 2000 she spent 6 months as an editor for the OECD in Paris and also worked for the Department of Health in Sydney. A former Irish Young Playwright of the Year, Tara was also a tutor of political science students while studying at the University of Limerick. She tutors on the Irish Academy’s online Journalism course.

Alan Hennessy, MIA, was born in Dublin in 1952, attended St. Joseph's CBS in Fairview and Naas CBS in Kildare and also attended Listowel Technical College. Worked in supply control in the RAF in the 70's. On return to Ireland he worked in several multinational companies as a stock controller.

Alan achieved a second honours diploma in journalism in 2001 and went on to write a series of articles for the Irish Examiner's County Supplement for a twenty month period (2002-2003) as a freelance contributor. He contributed to a series called Life Lines and had features published on subjects as diverse as the eco system, farming, sports, and what TV chef Seamus O'Connell would cook for lovers on Valentines Day. He has also been published by the Drogheda Independent, Corkman and Carrigdhoun newspapers. February 2005 will bring a career change for Alan as he launches himself into fulltime freelance journalism. He is currently working on a book entitled "Fumbling Fifty" and promises to make people laugh at the period of our lives referred to as "the old age of youth and the youth of old age".

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Lorcan Mac Muiris, MIA, graduated from the Irish Academy in 2004 and is a new-media journalist and sub-editor with UTV, having previously presented news shows and continuity on RTÉ Lyric FM, RTÉ One and Cork's 96 & 103FM. Lorcan is also a musician and presentation consultant, working on voice training, recording techniques and presentation skills. He has contributed to various online and hardcopy publications and edits the reviews sections of several Irish and UK websites.

I began studying the Diploma in Journalism course because I have an interest in the area of media. I had previously studied Audio/Visual Communications at I.T. Tallaght after my Leaving Cert in May 2000. I had a son in May 2001. The Diploma in Journalism course introduced me to the world of law, the role of the E.U and it's effect on Ireland and political matters through the subjects of Tort and Governmental Structures. As well as that, it continued my interest in media and radio. I am currently a third year degree student studying Management and Law at Aungier St D.I.T. I work full time as a dental nurse in Bray, Co Wicklow. In the future I would like to write feature articles for local newspapers and magazines.

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In 1998 I graduated from UCC with an Hons. BA Degree. I took English as my major and History as my minor. I continued studying in UCC with a Master of Arts Degree in the History of the Irish Media. My thesis was titled The Guildford Four and the Media 1975 - 1998. During my time in college I also undertook an independent course on Film Appreciation. As I've always had an interest in Journalism I undertook the Irish Academy's Diploma in Journalism in 2003 and I will be graduating with honours in November of 2004. I found the course to be quite intensive, interesting and extremely practical for those seeking employment in the industry. Though I have yet to attempt to be published many of my class mates have had great success. I'd highly recommend the course to any one with an interest in the media or print production.

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Alison O’Meara is a 2003 honours graduate of the Irish Academy. She graduated from NUI Maynooth in 1996 with a double honours BA in English Literature and Anthropology, and subsequently completed her MA by research in Anthropology. Her postgraduate research took her to the former Yugoslav republics of Bosnia-Hercegovina and Croatia, and her thesis documented the social condition of people remaining there and displaced abroad following the wars of the 1990s.

Alison held third level teaching posts with the Departments of Anthropology at NUI Maynooth and LSB College for a number of years before moving fulltime into the field of English language teaching. She has taught on the Refugee Language Programme and at private language colleges in Dublin.

More recently, wishing to follow up on her first love of researching and writing on cultural and social issues she completed the Academy’s Diploma in Journalism, and photography courses in Dublin. In Autumn 2004 she moved to South America to work as a writer/photographer in Bolivia with The Llama Express, an English language publication based in La Paz. She continues to work and travel overseas, and writes on a freelance basis.

Louise Roseingrave is an honours graduate of the Academy’s Diploma in Journalism course. Born in Dublin, from Ballyboughal, she was educated at St. Finian's Community College in Swords until 1999.

Louise went to college at University College Cork, studied Irish, Sociology, English & History. Majored in English & History. Graduated with 2.1 honours Bachelor of Arts degree in 2002.

In 2002, continued education at National University of Ireland, Galway, completed Higher Diploma in Education, received 2.1 honours result. Graduated 2003.

Stayed in Galway, studied Journalism ('03-'04) at Irish Academy, in Galway graduated with honours.

Freelanced in Boston, USA for paper called Quincy Sun for three months (Sept 04 - Dec 04)

Freelanced in Ireland before beginning first role as journalist with North County Leader, a weekly local newspaper covering North County Dublin readership of approx 135,000 people. She moves to the Evening Echo in Cork in November 05.

Hobbies include GAA (she plays with local team) music & travel.