Latest news with #ClassicalCivilisation
Leader Live
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
BBC award win for Wrexham student's brave OCD story
Faith Dodd, from Wrexham, was named BBC Wales Young Reporter of the Year while studying A Levels at Coleg Cambria. Faith received national recognition for bravely sharing her personal experiences of living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), using journalism to raise awareness and help others. Now 22, Faith has gone on to study Classical Archaeology and Classical Civilisation at University College London (UCL), where she recently completed her undergraduate degree and is preparing to begin a Master's in Archaeology this autumn. Faith Dodd (right) during an archaeology dog. "I can't imagine my life anywhere else," said Faith. "The course, location, and people made UCL the perfect fit for me, and I've loved my time here so much that I'm staying to continue my studies." Faith secured A levels in Classical Civilisation, drama, and biology, with AS levels in media and art while at Cambria. Read more: Wrexham headteacher to retire after almost two decades at local school She credits the college - and particularly teachers Tom Brooks and Jayme Edwards - with inspiring her love for the ancient world and the arts. "I loved my time at Cambria, and while my subjects may have seemed disjointed at the time, they all fed into my current passions - ancient theatre, archaeological human remains, Greek art, and the public outreach of archaeology in media." Faith Dodd, from Wrexham. Her university experience has included starring in sold-out productions of The Bacchae and Aristophanes' Frogs at the Bloomsbury Theatre, participating in archaeological digs across the UK and Europe, and a unique study tour visiting historic sites in Rome, Athens, and Crete. Read more: Colourful display across Wrexham and Flintshire for prom 2025 Faith has excavated Second World War air raid shelters, Roman villas, and even unearthed quirky finds like an early 1900s Heinz pickle jar and a Blitz-damaged park bench. She now hopes to work in public archaeology, engaging people through museums, media, and journalism. Former BBC Wales Young Reporter of the Year winner Faith Dodd in London. Before returning to London in September, Faith is taking a short break back home in North Wales following the completion of her dissertation on the depiction of women on Ancient Greek vases. She thanked her family, friends in Wrexham, and her university peers "from around the world" for their support and offered this advice to students unsure about their next steps: "Choose what you enjoy and what you're good at - your passion will carry you through the hard times," said Faith. • Visit for more on the wide range of courses and qualifications available at Coleg Cambria.
Irish Independent
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Nicola Coughlan spotted in Galway at the opening of acclaimed Michelin-starred chef's new restaurant
The Galway native visited Kombu Ramen & Bao Bar over the weekend as she sampled the new eatery which offers Japanese cuisine on Druid Lane in Galway city. Nicola, who is best known for her roles as Clare Devlin in Derry Girls and Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton, posed alongside Kombu staff who welcomed her to the restaurant. The star spent the sunny weekend in her native Galway and looked delighted to be at home as she smiled with staff. Sharing a photo on social media, Kombu staff captioned the photo, 'A special guest on our opening weekend. 'Thanks @nicolacoughlan for joining us to celebrate our first few days @komburamenbaogalway.' The 38-year-old has a storied history in Galway, having grown up in Oranmore and attending Calasanctius College before graduating from University of Galway (then National University of Ireland Galway) with a degree in English and Classical Civilisation. Since her breakthrough role in Channel 4's hit comedy Derry Girls, Nicola has starred in popular Netflix drama Bridgerton, blockbuster film Barbie and comedy-drama, Big Mood. The Irish star splits her time between her hometown and London and made her red-carpet debut with her boyfriend, British actor Jake Dunn, at the Bafta TV and Craft awards nominees party in April. Kombu Ramen & Bao Bar officially opened on Druid Lane on July 11 and is the latest work by award-winning chef JP McMahon. Kombu's kitchen will be led by Gabriel Hoefling Ossani, who has worked with McMahon at the Michelin-starred Aniar restaurant in Galway city. The restaurant offers a casual-style experience featuring steaming bowls of ramen, teriyaki, tempura, innovative rice dishes, and a creative selection of bao buns, as well as some playfully creative desserts. Adding to the local feel, colourful graffiti walls have been detailed by Galway artist Tracey O'Callaghan, which are paired with subdued lighting and a curated playlist to create a contemporary space in the heart of Galway's Latin Quarter. Kombu is open from Tuesday to Saturday and will aim to keep the positive momentum going during one of Galway's busiest spells.
Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wexford woman awarded All-Ireland Scholarship for her heartfelt depiction of the ‘frightening love parents feel for their children'
Kim from Gorey was presented with her award by competition judge and renowned author Donal Ryan at a special awards ceremony in Adare Manor on Tuesday, April 29. Speaking on the competition, Kim said, 'I have always loved writing, and I have been writing since I can remember. I think language and stories have an incredible ability to create connections between people. I entered this competition because I wanted more people to read about my (very ordinary) lived experience. "My piece is about being a parent, and the extraordinary importance of children, and I thought that was a message that people might relate to and connect with.' Sponsored by JP McManus, the competition is now in its fifth year and is open to all members of the All-Ireland Scholarships Alumni Association. This year's competition focused on the short form written word with fiction, non-fiction, op-ed and poetry categories. This year's judging panel included Donal Ryan, Professor Eoin Devereux, Dr Emily Cullen and winner of the 2024 competition, Surnaí Molloy. The judging process was chaired by Professor Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, Head of Creative Writing at the University of Limerick. Kim received the All Ireland Scholarship in 2008 and went on to pursue a BA Hons in English Literature and Classical Civilisation at Trinity College Dublin. She then completed an M Phil in Children's Literature, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, also at Trinity College Dublin. Kim now works as a post-primary teacher in Gorey Community School, where she teaches English and Classical Studies. The judges described Kim's piece as, 'a charming, heartfelt writing style, capturing so much about the frightening love parents feel for their children'. The All Ireland Scholarships, established by JP McManus in 2008, provides financial support to gifted students pursuing third-level education. Each year, 125 scholarships are awarded across Ireland. Recipients receive €6,750 per annum in Ireland and £5,500 per annum in Northern Ireland, covering the duration of their undergraduate studies. The third level educational scholarship is awarded to 125 of the highest achieving students per year, with a minimum of two students from each county.
Irish Examiner
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Beginner's pluck: Dublin-born writer Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin
An intense child, Niamh always loved writing. 'I scribbled lines before I could write,' she says, 'and at eight, I wrote poems and performed them at my parent's parties, but I lost confidence in my late teens.' Graduating in 2011, Niamh moved to London and worked for non-profit organisations, with social justice publications, with charities and unions on media relations, doing story telling for social change. She then studied politics at SOAS before working for a political blog and doing some freelance journalism. 'Then I worked for the Trades Union Congress and then switched to working freelance.' I like having a mix of different projects. All this time Niamh had yearned to write fiction, but there was never time. 'You have to make space. The pandemic focused me. 'I started writing the novel in January 2021 and sold it in the summer of 2023.' Meanwhile, in 2022, she won the PFD Queer Fiction Award and was shortlisted for the Women's Prize Discoveries Award, (for the first 10,000 words of a novel). Ordinary Saints was selected for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club. Who is Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin? Date/ place of birth: 1989/ Dublin. Education: Castleknock Community College; Trinity College Dublin, English with Classical Civilisation. SOAS, (School of Oriental and African Studies,) Politics. Home: Edinburgh, since 2020. Family: 'I have an incredible group of friends, which includes my sisters, Aoife and Dearbhaile.' The day job: Freelance in non-profit communications. In another life: 'I might have gone into the law and become a barrister.' Favourite writers: Virginia Woolf; Toni Morrison; Dorris Lessing; John MacGahern; Ruth Ozeki; Torrey Peters. Second book: 'It's in the early stages.' Top tip: 'I loved the George Saunders quote: 'Focus on the sentence.'' Website: Instagram: @niamhsquared The debut Ordinary Saints Manilla Press, €15.99 Jay has escaped her devout Irish family and lives in London with her girlfriend. But when she learns that Ferdia, the brother she adored — a priest who died young after a fatal accident — is being considered as a Catholic Saint, she's forced to confront her childhood and her family. Will she come to terms with the past? The verdict: This debut is pretty perfect. It's informative, original, heartfelt, very real, and stunningly written. The characters linger in your mind.
