Where Are They Now? SMTT Graduates
As we approach our Backstage Club Fundraiser, we are looking back at just a few of our past Stage Management and Technical Theatre graduates and all they went on to achieve!
Our upcoming Backstage Club fundraiser supports our Stage Management & Technical Theatre students - the crews of the future who are the backbone of theatre, TV and film productions. Your ticket supports our bursary fund for our SMTT students, widening accessibility to technical theatre training. Learn more about how you can support our students here.
Meet some of our graduates from this programme below, they've gone on to do incredible things across the entertainment sector.
Alison O'Shea (2024)
As she finished her degree at The Lir Academy last year, Alison worked on placement as the ASM/DSM on the dance performance work IMPASSE, by Mufutau Yusuf at Dublin Dance Festival, going on as Stage Manager for the productions autumn tour.
Alison returned to Dublin as ASM on The Giggler Treatment at The Ark theatre and as part of the LX team on Season 8 of RTE’s Dancing with the Stars. Alison is currently working across Ireland as ASM on the national tour of CHORA by Luail, a dance ensemble collaboration between Ireland's National Dance Company with the Irish Chamber Orchestra
Conor Sweeney (2014)
A part of the first cohort of SMTT graduates in 2014, Conor Sweeney is an accomplished professional with over a decade of experience in audiovisual (AV) and event production. Currently, Conor holds the position of Production Manager AV at Intercom, where he is responsible for global AV production and manages teams situated in both Dublin and San Francisco.
He worked at RTÉ for over 8 years, from Stage Manager to Floor Manager on RTÉ One's reality series Dancing with the Stars. Before joining Intercom, Conor was with Dreamtek at Meta Dublin. He began as an Onsite Production Technician and advanced to become the Regional Supervisor EMEA.
Eoin Daly (2022)
Eoin Daly is currently working in the costume department in the West End production Moulin Rouge, a truly spectacular musical with 200 spectacular costumes at the Piccadilly Theatre. They built significant experience in costume during their time at The Lir Academy, including serving as a costume assistant for Landmark Productions' Straight to Video in 2021 and a dresser for the Irish National Opera productions of Toscha and Maria Staurda in 2022.
Fodhla O'Brien (2015)
Bursary recipient, Fodhla O’Brien, was our first graduate to call a West End show! Now based in the UK, she has worked on a vibrant array of shows, and is currently a Stage Manager at the Royal Opera House in London. From 2023 to 2025 she was the Technical Assistant for Disney Theatrical Group, working across shows like The Lion King, Aladdin, Frozen and their newest show Hercules.
Fodhla's experience includes working as Deputy Stage Manager on Mother Goose, starring legendary actor Ian McKellen, during both the West End run at the Duke of York Theatre and the shows UK Tour. She also gained valuable experience as the Assistant Stage Manager for shows such as Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, and Get Up! Stand Up! for its West End Premiere.
Neal Shirran (2014)
After graduating from The Lir Academy in 2014, Neal Shirran has specialised as a lighting technician. Straight after graduating he gained experience as a freelance venue technician at Smock Alley Theatre.
He began working as a lighting warehouse technician for QLX Lighting Ltd., a Dublin-based stage lighting equipment supplier. He has spent over 7 years working with QLX Lighting, working as their Warehouse Manager overseeing equipment and then as their Hire Manager. Since leaving QLX in 2022, Neal is now working as a freelance lighting technician.
