For Ciaran, creativity is more than a profession—it is a means of understanding the world, a way to connect the past with the present. As a Curator and Creative Curator based in Belfast, she describes herself as curious and relentless—two qualities that have shaped her journey through art, history, and storytelling.

Among her many talents, she has a knack for anagrams—perhaps reflective of her ability to rearrange fragments of history into new narratives. But it was a discovery about her own family history that became a defining moment in her life. Learning that her father had been a prisoner of war from 1942 to 1945 during the North African Campaign set her on a path of deep exploration. This year, as the world marks 80 years since the end of the war, she is involved in several initiatives to commemorate its impact and legacy.

Loss and grief have been significant challenges in her life, but she has turned to creative work as a means of both processing and overcoming them. Through art and curation, she has found a way to give meaning to absence, to honour memory, and to engage with the world in a way that is both personal and communal.

Her parents played an integral role in shaping her perspective, offering unwavering support and encouraging her to make the most of every opportunity. It is a philosophy she continues to embrace—her advice to others is simple: Engage with people, and seize opportunities whenever they arise.

Ciaran finds herself most alive on the Belmullet Peninsula in Mayo, where the wild landscape offers space for reflection and renewal. Her definition of happiness is equally rooted in connection—she believes in bothering to help others and sharing skills, a reminder that creativity, at its core, is about generosity.

Looking to the future, her hope for Belfast is that it blossoms as a creative city—one that embraces its rich heritage with pride and uses it as a foundation for new cultural and artistic expression.