About
My journey to becoming a Celebrant is long and winding. The common thread running throughout all my work is an interest in stories, people and what we can learn through the stories that we tell.
I was born and raised in Yorkshire, England and have lived and worked in London, Toronto and various European locations before settling in Dublin, Ireland in 2006.
I have worked as a teacher of drama, as an interview journalist, as an arts administrator, as a dramatherapist, as a playwright and more recently as an award winning screenwriter. It seems that what I am compelled to keep on doing, is to dig for the story and find the best of way of telling it.
All my work experience and skills allow me to develop my craft as a Celebrant:
I am a good listener paying close attention to detail and nuance.
I am empathic in my approach, always mindful that my work involves meeting and engaging with people during the more heightened emotional moments in their lives.
I am able draw out the key points of the story which need to be told and best reflects the clients’ needs and aims.
I am an experienced writer in various storytelling formats with an understanding of tone, narration and the arc of a story.
I am an experienced and able public speaker and have performed in various contexts; in the theatre, in an academic setting and in the classroom.
I get satisfaction in my work when I know I have listened carefully, crafted something genuine and get a sense on the day that I have captured my clients’ needs.
“Helen manages to combine warmth, trust, thoroughness, an immense capacity to listen, and a willingness to see the best of everyone in her work. She is a real collaborator.”
