The residency, specifically for a professional musician who is autistic/a person with autism, will provide Róisín with an opportunity to further develop her musicianship and composition skills. Throughout her time in Boyle, she will explore the local history of the area, drawing inspiration from her visits to King House and the surrounding region to create new music. She will spend some of her time researching the local musical heritage and learn more about the area’s musicians, incorporating these influences into a performance which will take place at King House at the end of her residency.
She will also have an opportunity to be mentored by renowned musician and community music facilitator Patrick O'Laoghaire as they deliver a series of inclusive workshops designed for the autistic community in the surrounding area together.
Speaking about the appointment she said: "I am honoured and delighted to have been selected as musician-in-residence at King House. This is an opportunity I am most grateful to be afforded, and this will allow me time and an inspirational creative space to further develop my musicianship. I would like to sincerely thank Music Network, Roscommon Arts Office and King House for their support and confidence in me."
This opportunity follows the appointment of Patrick stefan in 2024 as the first Irish Musician-in-Residence in a residency specifically for a professional musician who is autistic/a person with autism, a partnership between Music Network and St. John’s Theatre and Arts Centre, Listowel. A second residency saw Dylan Howe (Hánt) appointed as Musician-in-Residence at Ionad Cultúrtha in 2025.
The residency programme was developed in recognition of the fact that professional musicians who are autistic/people with autism face barriers to career progression that others may not. The main purpose of the residency is to provide time and space for the Musician-in-Residence to develop their practice intensively.
Music Network along with its residency partners is also seeking to create the conditions to influence social change in the music sector in general and hopes to gain knowledge on how autistic people/people with autism can be better included and facilitated both in its own programmes and in the wider sector, whether in performance or educational environments.
Commenting on the announcement, CEO of Music Network Sharon Rollston said: “We’re thrilled to be working with partners Roscommon County Council and King House on this residency, supporting Róisín in taking her creative practice in new and exciting directions. Our goal is to provide a valuable developmental experience for Róisín as a musician, as well as learn from her as she spends time at the venue as Musician-in-Residence.”
Roscommon County Council Arts Officer Rhona McGrath has said “We are very pleased to partner again with Music Network on a high quality music development programme in County Roscommon and we warmly welcome Róisín to King House. We expect this music residency will meet an area of need and respond to our ambitions to support, encourage, nurture and promote the arts and artists through diverse programmes, events, funding schemes and partnerships.”
Róisín will commence her residency this October and the two month opportunity will provide her with an €8,000 bursary as well as dedicated space and time to develop her artistic practice and create new work, culminating in a final public performance at King House in November.
