Beginner's pluck: Counsellor and psychotherapist Sinéad Nolan
An adventurous child, Sinéad adored playing in a forest with her friends, climbing trees.
'We had so much freedom,' she says.
Following her MA in journalism, she lived in Dublin and wrote features for the Irish Independent and Sunday World.
'Then I went travelling for a year, spending time in New Zealand. Then, living in London, I decided to chill for a while.'
I worked in a clothes shop in Covent Garden, and I wrote short stories.
Sinéad's stories have been shortlisted for the Momaya Press Awards, and the RTÉ Francis McManus Award: 'That was 2006, when Claire Keegan won.'
Aged 30, she trained as a counsellor and psychotherapist and has worked in the area ever since.
'In 2019, I did a Faber novel writing course for six months, meeting once a week. It was wonderful getting feedback from others. We've stayed in touch,' she says.
Sinéad gained her agent through the Faber anthology: 'Nine got in touch. I chose Stephanie Cross of Marie B Campbell Associates. She helped me edit.'
Who is Sinéad Nolan?
Date/place of birth: 1985/ Dublin.
Education: Holy Child, Killiney. University of Derby, creative writing; Nottingham Trent University, MA in newspaper journalism. CPPD, counselling school, counselling and psychotherapy.
Home: Kent.
Family: Husband, Jason; daughter, Aoaise, four months; cats, Kitty and Gingey.
The day job: Counsellor and psychotherapist in private practice.
In another life: 'I've always liked the idea of being a doctor or a nurse. I took a while deciding between medicine and psychotherapy.'
Favourite writers: Sylvia Plath; Kazuo Ishiguro; Lionel Shriver; Claire Keegan.
Second book: 'It's called Shadow Play and is half written. It's about a psychotherapist in London.'
Top tip: 'I like Ernest Hemingway's advice: 'Good writing is rewriting.' Also, find your writing tribe and get feedback.'
Instagram: @Sineadnolanwriter.
The debut
The Counting Game
Harper North, €16.99
Traumatised from his mother's death, Jack rarely speaks.
And when his sister, Saoirse, disappears in the forest, he's unable to remember exactly what happened.
Garda Morris enlists Freya, a psychologist with demons of her own. Will she gain Jack's trust, and get to the truth?
'I heard Jack's voice and wrote the first scene with Garda Morris. I'm not a plotter.'
The verdict: Clever and compulsive. The plot is lifted by the psychological insights.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I turned my hair from thin to thick in seconds with a £3.40 hack hairdressers swear by, it adds volume & shine too
MANY people wish their hair was thicker and more luscious. Thankfully you may only need a £3.40 product, according to a hairdresser. 3 Julia joked that she had just 'five hairs' and wanted thicker locks Credit: tiktok/@justliia4 3 She showed how one simple L'Oreal product made her hair luscious after drying Credit: tiktok/@justliia4 One beauty lover joked that she was fed up with having 'five hairs' but managed to Julia, who posts under 'I got the trick from my hairdresser.' The only thing you need to get, according to Julia is L'Oreal's Elvive Styliste Mousse, which is said to 'boosts your hair volume by lifting from the root.' More on hair You can currently pick up a bottle from Julia shared how she starts with damp, clean hair and then shakes the bottle well. She then squeezes some of the The social media user advised: 'Distribute it upwards into your hair (more at the roots). Most read in Fabulous You then need to In the clip, which has racked up over 300 likes, she showed how she uses a rounded brush to create extra volume and shape at the front. Pregnant Georgia Harrison reveals her glam new look ahead of Ibiza trip When she was finished, her hair looked bouncy, shiny and much Many people were impressed with the results, with one saying: 'It looks great.' According to the product description, thin hair needs to be 'texturized from root to tip and requires long lasting hold.' The results are said to last up to 48 hours with its 'strong fixing power.' 3 Julia sweared by using L'Oreal's Elvive Styliste Mousse Credit: Elvive HAIR LOSS REASONS Jack Merrick-Thirlway, creative director at This type of hair loss can start from teen years and although will be difficult to treat, it can be slowed down if treated immediately. Hormonal imbalances may also cause you to lose hair. Pregnancy and the However, Another hair saboteur is excessive friction. Jacks says those who are wearing a tight ponytail repeatedly may find themselves experiencing hair loss. Finally, using the wrong products or having too many chemical treatments can lead to hair loss. HAIR GROWTH TIPS So, how can we encourage our hair to grow? Jack says that when shopping for new products to help with hair thickness, there are few ingredients to look out for. 'I'd advise looking out for ingredients such as biotin, 'That said, if you feel out of your depth, you can also seek advice with your hair stylist.' Be wary of too many chemicals in your styling products as they can exacerbate hair loss - and you should also not wash it too often. 'To ensure your hair stays healthy it is important not to over wash it,' advises Jack. 'Instead try and limit washing your hair to two or three times a week. "Use a gentle shampoo and conditioner to make sure you do not remove any moisture.' Rush hair expert reveals how to repair damaged hair TINA Farey, Editorial director at Rush Hair, shares her advice… HOW TO RESTORE DAMAGED HAIR Whilst you can't fully reserve the effects of damaged hair, you can stop the problem from growing. Depending on the condition of your hair, I'd recommend getting a trim every six to eight weeks - this will prevent any split ends from travelling further up the hair shaft, which weakens the hair's overall structure and leads to more breakage. Even just an inch of the ends will completely transform the appearance of your hair – trust me. When it comes to products to help restore damaged hair, Goldwell's Rich Repair Treatment Mask is a firm favourite – strengthening damaged locks to be healthy and shiny once again. HOW TO PREVENT DAMAGE My number one tip is to always use a heat protectant – even if you're only blow-drying your hair. Consistent heat styling without one will leave your hair open to heat damage. I'd also recommend refraining from over-washing your hair as this can strip the hair of its natural oils – nobody wants a dry and irritated scalp! And finally, swap your sleek, slick back for a hair down day! They may be in fashion at the moment, but over time all that tension on your strands from being pulled will wreak havoc on your hair follicles – this could lead to thinning and bald spots in areas where the hair is constantly pulled.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Coronation Street star quits after two years – and his final scenes have already aired
CORONATION Street star Jack Carroll has quietly quit the show after two years. Actor and comedian Jack, 26, who lives with cerebral palsy, joined the soap back in October 2023 as Advertisement 2 Jack Carroll has quit Coronation Street after 18 months Credit: ITV 2 The actor played Rob Donovan's secret son Credit: ITV Bosses made a big deal of his casting with Jack saying at the time: 'I'm delighted and honoured to be playing a part in the history of the cultural institution that is Coronation Street. "I hope Bobby brings viewers a lot of laughs in the vein of some of the street's classic comedy characters." But The Sun can reveal that Jack filmed his final scenes back in March, with his low-key exit airing on screen last month after his storyline came to a natural end. In scenes that played out on the 12th May, Bobby decided to fly out to Spain for a last minute holiday after close friend Lauren Bolton accused him of being her blackmailer. Advertisement Read more on Coronation Street He told his aunt Carla, actress Alison King, that he would be joining Simon Barlow on his travels. Simon Barlow actor Alex Bain was also axed by bosses and left the soap last year. A Corrie source said: 'Jack loved his time on the cobbles but it came to a natural end for now. 'He did 18 months on the street and loved every minute of it. Advertisement Most read in Soaps 'His exit was very low-key and even the viewers didn't realise his last minute holiday to Spain would be a permanent move. 'Jack wanted to go quietly and not make a fuss. Jack Carroll on Britain's Got Talent 'The door is very much open for him to return in future storylines.' Jack shot to fame at 14 when he was the runner up on the seventh series of Britain's Got Talent in 2014. Advertisement Coronation Street's 2024 shock exits Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let's break down who's left the famous soap: Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza's grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life. Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live. Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering. Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul's impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full. Simon Barlow ( The Weatherfield legend Simon's been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy. It looks likely she'll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind. Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end. Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia. His stand up comedy routine was a hit with the judges and viewers alike and he went on to appear on Saturday Night at the London Palladium, Jason Manford's Funny Old Week and Live At the Apollo as well as completing his first national live tour. Since filming his Corrie exit Jack has been busy with a new podcast, Love int North, which celebrates the most northern love stories.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Johnny ‘Mad Dog' Adair's second-hand suit among merch up for sale online
Johnny Adair told the Sunday World, he was every bit as surprised as everyone else, when he saw his second-hand clothes being offered for sale on a social media market place. A suit worn by Johnny Adair and autograph has gone up for sale with a £500 price tag. A second-hand suit once worn by former loyalist terror chief Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair, is being offered for sale for hundreds of pounds, the Sunday World has learned. A Johnny Adair Memorabilia page has popped up on the social media market place Etsy. And items which once owned by the infamous former loyalist leader and personally authenticated by him as genuine, are now being offered for sale for big money. A low-end signed photograph of Adair will set you back a mere £30. Former UDA boss Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair. But if you want to get your hands on a second-hand dress suit - by Burton the Tailor - and once owned by the UDA's self-proclaimed Director of Terrorism, you will need to shell out a whopping £500! Last Saturday, Johnny Adair told the Sunday World, he was every bit as surprised as everyone else, when he saw his second-hand clothes being offered for sale on a social media market place. Johnny Adair's suit is up for sale News in 90 Seconds - June 19th He said: 'I get requests to meet up with people all the time. 'Sometimes, its people with a genuine interest in the Northern Ireland situation. Often they want to understand my views on the political situation. And if they are genuine and polite, then I'm happy to discuss it with them. 'But in this case, what happened was, a man called to see me asking if I would sign a few glossy pictures of myself. I agreed and I signed around six or so. 'But he kept on bringing out more and more pictures and I kept on signing them. I think I must have signed around 60 of them. 'Then he asked me if I would give him an old suit which I no longer wear.' Johnny Adair's suit. 'I had a light grey suit in my wardrobe which I had bought for a wedding, but no longer wore. He asked me to put it on and to pose for a picture wearing it, so as he could prove it once belonged to me. 'And the next thing I knew was people were stopping me in the street and asking me if I was selling my old clothes on the internet.' said the former UDA leader. A suit worn by Johnny Adair and autograph has gone up for sale with a £500 price tag. And he added: 'I didn't know there was money in selling second-hand clothes.' A one-time UDA Brigadier - jailed for 16 years for directing loyalist terrorism - Johnny Adair has been living in Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland, for around 20 years. Adair was released from prison early under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. And after a short stint in England, he moved to Ayrshire where his close friend and fellow loyalist, Sam 'Skelly' McCrory had settled after serving 16 years for conspiracy to murder a senior IRA man. Both ardent football fans, the pair followed Glasgow Rangers. And during trips to Ibrox Stadium, Adair was regularly besieged by supporters, well-wishers and autograph hunters. And last year, when Adair attended a football function at Ayr Racecourse, the MC had to appeal for people to take their seats after the for UDA boss was surrounded. 'You can say what you like, but in certain circles, Johnny Adair definitely possesses a celebrity factor.' said one of the organisers.'
