Dr Helen Hellessey

Biography

Helen works at in-service level in the integrated arts with the Education Support Centres Ireland network (Communities of Practice or COPs), Creative Ireland Programme (Cork-based TAP and BLAST projects) and An tOireachas (cultural body: creation of regional framework in classroom drama through Irish language).

Helen taught for thirty seven years at primary level, holding a post of responsibility in Music and Drama. She holds a Masters degrees in drama-in-education at University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. In 2025, Helen was conferred with a PhD at UCC, exploring playwriting for literacy incorporating visual metaphors (arts-based research).

Helen, a recipient of a John Coolahan award, supervises Masters students at the School of Education at Trinity. Committee work has included Cork Education Support Centre, the Association for Drama in Education (ADEI) and the National Association for Teachers of Drama (England). Recent conference presentations include International Drama in Education Association, China (on-line, 2024); Network for Educational Action Research Ireland (2024); International Drama in Education Association, Iceland. (2022). Publications include conference proceedings at IDEA (2024): several articles in Intouch (Irish National Teachers’ Association’s bi-monthly magazine); and collaboratively written handbooks with practising teachers (COPs). Helen facilitates community theatre projects and enjoys traditional singing. Future research interest involves creating a theatre of the visual metaphor.