Martin Warde

Martin Warde is a member of the Irish Traveller community and has a degree in Sociology and Politics from NUIG and an MA in journalism at UL. Martin is also a stand-up comedian/writer, theatre-maker, and podcaster with a passion for telling stories from the margins. Martin has spoken on multiple platforms about the lack of representation of his community within Irish media, particularly in positions of power and decision making. Martin’s first play, “The Dead House”, was programmed as a work in progress at the Writers week at Listowel in 2022 , The Dublin theatre festival 2021, and Traveller pride week In the Hawkswell theatre 2022, and saw the finished play enjoy a 15-night sold out run at Dublin theatre festival 2023. Martin regularly writes for the Irish Times, Irish Examiner,and a recently as a features writer for the Sunday independent. He is a regular on TV panels on RTE and Virgin Media and most recently reading his essay on BBC radio 4’s ‘Four thought’ program. Martin recently finished working on a project with the National Museum of Ireland that aims to archive Traveller oral history from the community’s elders. In 2022 Martin held his first exhibition of his work undertaken on a Photography project with the Photo Museum of Ireland that explored perspective and expressionism within the Traveller community within the context of Mental health and wellbeing. This project was in partnership with The HSE, Creative Ireland, Healthy Ireland Initiative, The Open doors to work initiative, and The Photo Museum Ireland. In 2023, Martin completed his FUEL artist residency with the Druid Theatre company in Galway and brought his play. Martin's first 6-episode television series, The End of the world with Beanz, broadcast on RTE One in March 2024. His first 3-part radio documentary will broadcast on RTE radio one later in 2024. He is probably walking his dog when not doing any of the above.