At Home With Irish Arts Center | Caelainn Hogan: Republic of Shame

Caelainn Hogan is a writer and journalist from Dublin. Her first book, Republic of Shame, investigates the ongoing legacy of Ireland's religious-run institutions. She has reported internationally for the New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, New Yorker, Guardian, Harper's, VICE, Washington Post, and more.

Photo credit: Ruth Barry

Ailbhe Smyth is a long-time feminist and LGBTIQ and social activist. The founding head of women’s studies at University College Dublin, she has published widely on feminism, politics and culture. Ailbhe has played a leadership role in many campaigns, including the same-sex marriage referendum campaign In Ireland in 2015. She has been fighting for women’s right to choose for decades and was co-director of the Together for Yes national referendum campaign that removed the ban on abortion from the Irish Constitution in 2018. She convenes the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment, and is a regular contributor to media and national debate on this and other issues in Ireland.

She was named as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2019 for her work in repealing the eighth amendment. 

Photo credit: Mattia Pelizzari

Jess Kav has been a prominent influence in the emerging soul, jazz and funk scenes in Ireland for several years. Jess was raised by an Irish-Nigerian mother and soul enthusiast who fed her a musical diet of Motown, jazz and Irish indie. After studying at London’s Institute Of Contemporary Music Performance and the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Jess has focused on songwriting as well as touring, recording, and activism. 

Jess has toured extensively with the Waterboys as a backing vocalist, and is writing and releasing music with collaborative project, BARQ. Previously, Jess has worked with top international and Irish artists, such as Hozier, Villagers, Kodaline, the Commitments, Jape, and Le Galaxie. She has also worked with top brands like Google, Diageo, Twitter, Jameson, Audi, and Smithwicks. Over lockdown Jess has been working with the Irish Times, RTÉ Arena, Hot Press, and Pantisocracy as a guest and contributor.

Connie Roberts, a County Offaly native, is the author of Little Witness (Arlen House, 2015), a collection of poetry inspired by her experiences growing up in an industrial school in the Irish midlands. The collection was shortlisted for the Shine/Strong Award. She is a recipient of the Patrick Kavanagh Award and the Listowel Writers’ Week Poetry Collection Award. She was selected as the Exceptional Offaly Person of the Year 2016. She teaches creative writing at Hofstra University, New York. Website: connierobertspoet.com.