Rosaleen McDonagh is a Traveller woman with a disability. Originally from Sligo. She worked in Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre for ten years, managing the Violence Against Women programme, and remains a board member. Rosaleen has a BA in Biblical & Theological Studies, an MPhil in Ethnic & Racial Studies &
Rosaleen McDonagh is a Traveller woman with a disability. Originally from Sligo. She worked in Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre for ten years, managing the Violence Against Women programme, and remains a board member. Rosaleen has a BA in Biblical & Theological Studies, an MPhil in Ethnic & Racial Studies & an MPhil in Creative Writing, all from TCD. She holds a PhD from Northumbria University. She is a regular contributor to the Irish Times and has written ostensibly within the framework of a Traveller feminist perspective. McDonagh’s work includes Mainstream, The Baby Doll Project, Stuck, She’s Not Mine, and Rings. Rosaleen was appointed to The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in May 2020. She is also a member of Aosdana and is part of the BBC’s Writers Rooms Hothouse 2021 ( June/July).
Rosaleen was commissioned for a feature article in the Irish Times in 2012 responding to Channel 4’s series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. In 2013/2014, she worked with Graeae Theatre on its WTP programme. As part of this project, she spent two weeks on attachment in The Royal Court Theatre. Her play Mainstream was directed by Olivier Award winner, Jim Culleton, for Fishamble and Project Arts Centre in 2016. In 2018, Fishamble produced Rosaleen’s play Running Out of Road in the RHK to mark the first anniversary of Traveller Ethnicity recognition. Rosaleen was writer in residence with Tuti Theatre Company in Adelaide, Australia in 2019. Corrib Theatre Company in Portland Oregon, USA, produced The Prettiest Proud Boy in May 2021. Walls & Windows was commissioned in May 2021 by The Abbey Theatre. Contentious Spaces commissioned by Project Arts Centre 2020/2021. Skein Press publishing collection of essays titled Unsettled in September 2021.
McDonagh writes from a Traveller feminist perspective. Her work includes Mainstream, The Baby Doll Project, Stuck, She’s Not Mine, and Rings, The Prettiest Proud Boy, Walls&Windows. Rosaleen was appointed to The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in May 2020. She is also a member of Aosdana. Skein Press published her collection of essays titled Unsettled in September 2021.
