About

Fionnuala Cassidy is a bestselling author, scriptwriter, creative writing facilitator and poet. She writes personalised poetry, on commission, as gifts for individuals and corporate events. She has had three novels published and has written short stories and a children’s story for various anthologies. 

 

For the last 15 years Fionnuala has been writing herself and helping others to reach their potential. 

 

In 2009 her first novel “Anyone for Seconds?”, (written under the pen name Fiona Cassidy), reached No 6 in the Irish Paperback Fiction charts making it a bestseller. Her subsequent novels “Anyone for Me? and “Anyone for Secrets?” were both top 20 successes.

 

Fionnuala’s second novel “Anyone for Me?” was particularly powerful as it dealt with the subject of adoption. As an adoptee and mother and baby home survivor Fionnuala was able to draw on personal experience which she described as both therapeutic and cathartic. Since this book was published, in 2011, Fionnuala discovered the resting place of her brother, Paul, who died in Nazareth Lodge in 1972. He is buried in a mass grave in Milltown, Belfast, and the journey navigated, surrounding this, was both traumatic and rewarding. Finally, answers to lifelong questions were delivered and there was an opportunity for acceptance whilst honouring his life. Writing has served as a therapy for Fionnuala and when delivering workshops she knows the benefits of using the written word to ‘let go’.

 

Fionnuala has engaged with WAVE trauma and The Peace Factory who both offer support to victims from the troubles. She also works with people with mental health issues who use writing to calm the mind and release negative emotions as part of distraction techniques. To date she has worked with trauma sufferers, those with specific disorders, people on the autistic spectrum and dementia patients.

 

Additionally, Fionnuala delivers workshops on a purely recreational basis to those who simply want to know more about the mechanics of writing whilst learning about the different genres. 

 

All her classes include exploration in journaling, short story writing, poetry, novel writing in its many categories, script writing, memoirs and factual material.

 

Fionnuala has experience in working with varying age groups through personal engagement and within government funded projects. She works with community groups, arts organisations, women’s circles, historical societies and charities. She also delivers workshops in schools and youth clubs. 

 

For three years she was commissioned as a facilitator to work with groups in the Armagh area to produce and edit short stories in collections for the John Hewitt Society. She has also facilitated writing for wellbeing workshops for ABC council that incorporated documenting local stories and history and heritage in rural areas. She has delivered classes for Mid Ulster Council at the Hill of the O’Neill and teaches both in person and online. She works with the women in First Steps Women’s Centre in Dungannon and tutors a group weekly for Inspire Wellbeing. She has also facilitated many workshops for independent organisations. As well as this, Fionnuala works on projects with children in school settings and in youth groups.

 

Fionnuala has been involved in writing educational scripts for theatre companies to use in schools and has written accompanying material for puppet shows. In 2018 she penned her first comedy script in conjunction with Cannyman Community Arts in Galbally which was staged over three nights and raised money for charity. 

 

Fionnuala is dedicated to helping aspiring writers and has been a mentor in the past. She has lent her experience to fledgling authors wishing to get published and critiqued samples of their work.

 

Fionnuala writes personalised poetry for occasions and events which include birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, christenings, retirement, in appreciation of or in memoriam to those who have passed on. Additionally she writes poetry to be delivered by organisations during presentations and at functions and her work has also been used during wedding ceremonies and during the speeches. The list is not exhaustive and she enjoys new challenges so all suggestions and enquiries are considered. If you can celebrate it or commemorate it Fionnuala can write it!

 

Fionnuala lives in Galbally, Co. Tyrone and her employment background is stepped in working with vulnerable people who require short term crisis management and need support with mental health. 

Fionnuala loves spending time in nature and is a folklore enthusiast. She is also passionately committed to being a voice for those who didn’t have one and is determined to live life to the full in memory of her brother. Since 2021 she has been involved with a Truth Recovery group who are seeking justice for those impacted by activities in mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland. 

​

Fionnuala has four children - Colm, Úna, Áine and Orán and is also pet guardian to a playful Border Jack called Leo and a crazy cat named Moss. She believes that every negative experience can be an opportunity to find a positive no matter how difficult life can be. 

​

 

When it’s dark look for a star

and when it rains look for a rainbow.

​

​