Occupation Actor, radio host Role Television Actor Name Cliona Chiosain | Children 0 Years active 2006–present TV shows Aifric | |
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Full Name Cliona Ni Chiosain Born 1990 Ireland | ||
An Triail - Agallamh le Clíona Ní Chiosáin
Clíona Ní Chíosáin was the star of Aifric, a television show on channel TG4, in Ireland which ran for a total of 3 series from 2006 to 2008. The show later featured on BBC Alba where it was dubbed in Scottish Gaelic. Since that time Clíona Ní Chíosáin has either starred or featured in a number of other Irish-language productions and hosts a radio show.
Contents
- An Triail Agallamh le Clona N Chiosin
- Riltn The First Irish Language Play Since 1884 to Premier in America
- Roles
- Personal life
- Filmography
- References
Réiltín: The First Irish Language Play Since 1884 to Premier in America
Roles
In the show Aifric Clíona Ní Chíosáin starred as the 13- to 14-year-old protagonist named Aifric. The series revolves around Aifric's family of urban Irish speakers (Gaeilgeoirí) who have recently moved to a Gaeltacht area in the west of Ireland. Her family are quite eccentric and unorthodox. Aifric however is a sensible yet self-conscious character and who, in spite of her family, wishes to be normal. She is very conscious about doing anything that may be embarrassing. Given the nature of her family, avoiding embarrassment becomes an uphill struggle, with an entertaining outcome. The show also focuses on her first kiss and the associated difficulties. In 2008 Clíona Ní Chíosáin was nominated for an Irish Film and Television Academy award for her role in Aifric.
Other minor TV roles include the show Scúp, another TG4 production in which she made an appearance. This show aired on TG4 and BBC Northern Ireland. She was also interviewed on the RTÉ2 show Two Tube.
Clíona Ní Chíosáin and her sister also hosted "Speig Neanta", a radio show on Dublin's Irish-language station Raidio na Life, which runs every Saturday. A notable event from the show so far was a prank call made by RTÉ 2fm's Cormac Battle purporting to be the famous Irish musician Hozier. During the interview "Hozier" uncharacteristically bragged about his achievements and attempted to ask Clíona Ní Chíosain out on a date. She eventually realised that it was a hoax but took it in good part.
In theatre Clíona Ní Chíosáin appeared in the play "Réiltín" in the Abbey Theatre. This was another Irish language play and is a modern production. It focuses on a young girl’s attempt to win fame as a singer entirely through Irish language rock songs in both Ireland and Britain. The production itself was subject to criticism, with an Irish Independent review commenting that the play had
"No clear plot and little direction as Cliona Ní Chiosain spins about to a backing track of aped Britpop, keening over her failed love affairs with music and with her man. Occasionally falling over and singing from behind a mop of hair it's 50 minutes of extreme karaoke."
The review notes however that Cliona Ní Chiosain "tries admirably" with most criticism directed against the plot.This play premièred in America and also featured as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival.
Ní Chíosán also starred in Fíbín's production of the Irish play An Triail, a well-known drama by Máiréad Ní Ghráda. Ní Chíosain played the character of Máire, the young mother who is abandoned by 1960s Irish society. This production received some acclaim, being described as a "creative and vibrant interpretation of Máiréad Ní Ghráda's play" by the Irish Theatre Magazine.
Personal life
Ní Chíosáin was raised in an Irish-speaking family. She attended an Irish-medium primary school in Leixlip, County Kildare named "Scoil Chearbhaill Uí Dhálaigh". She is a notable Gaeilgeoir or Irish speaker from a non-traditional background. She has been an ambassador for TG4 and the Irish language. She has spoken passionately about the matter of peer pressure on young people and has officially launched a website pertaining to under-age sex and teen pregnancy. She commented on the matter "This will be a lifeline for so many people. With more websites like this peer pressure can be eliminated."