NIALL DE BURCA

Niall de Burca is a scéalaí, a traditional storyteller with the ability to connect with audiences of all ages. Raised on the Atlantic coast of Ireland, like many Irish of his generation Niall migrated at a young age. His adventures led him to the Pacific and New Zealand where he lived by the mighty Whanganui River. After many years Niall returned to Ireland so he could spend time with his elders. He is now based in Dublin and travels worldwide to perform and facilitate storytelling workshops.

Niall has performed on many occasions at Ireland’s National Museum of Antiquities, the National Folk Life Museum and held workshops at the Irish School of Animation. He has directed "Blackwater Storystream”, a peace and reconciliation project that brought together fifty schools in the north of Ireland. He has produced cd collections including two of Irish kids performing traditional rhymes and stories. In 2007 he performed n the European Parliament in Brussels to celebrate Irish becoming an official language of The EU.

A featured performer in theatre, on TV and at festivals on 6 continents; Niall has shared his unique storytelling style in countries as diverse as Argentina, Estonia and India. He has performed at the Hans Christian Andersen Centre in Odense and at Helsingør where Shakespeare set Hamlet. Also in Denmark at Roskilde Viking Ship Museum Niall performed aboard the Sea Stallion. An exact working replica of the ship made in Dublin 1000 years ago with wood from Glendalough.

He has performed voiceover on abridged digital editions of many classic stories including CS Lewis’ Narnia and Holes by Louis Sacher. And in 2023 voiced the adventures and life of Brendan the Nivaigator. On many occasions Niall has performed and MC'd at the Lighting of the Christmas tree ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin. Museum and Art gallery exhibitions are another aspect of his work. These include shows on Sophie Scholl; the Vikings; World War One and also kinetic sculptor Len Lye. His educational programmes are hugelyu popular noth in Ireland and overseas.

Niall’s credo is the proverb “Nior bhris focal maith fiacal riamh...A good word never broke a tooth”