Parenting Artists Ireland

Parenting Artists Ireland (PAI) is a collective founded by Deborah Byrne in 2022 to support the often conflicting worlds of artistic practice and new motherhood. 

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PAI is a supportive, inclusive peer network for mothers, parents and carers who had, have, or aspire to have, a professional or semi-professional arts practice of any artistic discipline. Currently our group is mostly made up of mothers based in Dublin but artists from all areas in Ireland are welcome. 

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What we do:

This is a peer network for collaborating and sharing:
- encouragement
- our artistic work
- resources
- opportunities
- tips for staying creative while being a parent.

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Who is it for:

In recognition of the disproportionately heavy caring duties placed on mothers in society, and the resulting impact it has on their artistic careers, this group seeks primarily to respond to the challenge of maintaining an arts practice while a mother. Those who identify as parents and carers are also welcome. 

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CURRENT MEMBERS: 

Aisling O’Gorman, Alice Coghlan, Aoife Concannon, Ashley Steed, Bridget Deevy, Deborah Byrne, Deirdre Collins, Duffy Mooney-Shephard, Eileen Hogan, Eithne McAdam, Fiona O'Donoghue, Grace Kelley, Hazel O'Shea, Karen Kleinenberg, Kate Strain, Laura Trueman, Lauren Tuite, Louisa Ni hEadáin, Lucy Mather, Maria Pfister, Marylore Seecharan, Orla Fitzgerald, Pia Dunne, Riona Hartman, Sarah McQuillan, Siobhan O’Kelly, Terri Levine, Zofia Jarzebkiewicz.

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* Illustration by member Marylore Seecharan

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