Emma O Shea – Managing Editor
Hi, my name is Emma O Shea! I was born and raised in Cork and it's safe to say I fit the stereotype of being obsessed with my county, which I have only learnt since moving away from it. I graduated this year from University College Cork, with a BA joint honours in English and History. My hobbies include crocheting and reading. I am a massive horror and dystopian fan. My favourite authors are Shirley Jackson and Octavia E. Butler. I am also a massive fan of all things vampire.
Anta Elezi– Assistant Managing Editor
Hello, my name is Anta Elezi. I graduated from the American College of Thessaloniki with a BA in English Literature. I am Albanian, born and raised in Greece, and I recently moved to Ireland to pursue an MA in Literature and Publishing. For as long as I can remember, books have felt magical to me, little worlds waiting to be discovered. They were, and still are, the greatest gifts I could ever receive. I truly believe in the power literature and writing hold, and my hope is to help create more opportunities for others to experience that same sense of inspiration and empowerment. I also love movies, shows, music (despite my truly tragic singing skills), and animals.
One thing I find punk is how the cat that came with my new house demands breakfast every morning at 7a.m. I admire her determination and if I go after my goals with even half her confidence, I think I'll be just fine.
Editorial Team
Ciara O'Connor – Lead
Hi there! I am Ciara, this year’s Editorial Lead for ROPES. I am from a tiny rural village in County Kerry where there is not much else to do but read, or write your own story, stapling A4 pages together to make it a “book”. I completed a BA in English at UCC in 2023, which taught me that I adore writing in all forms. I am a writer myself, mainly of gothic short stories based on Irish mythology and history about girlhood, identity and monstrosity. I have an academic interest in these same themes, as well as in horror, fandom studies and adaptation. When I am not writing, researching, or editing ROPES, I can be found reading as many books as I can, listening to comedy podcasts, and playing The Sims.
To me, punk is about nonconformity, community, and self-made joy. One punk act of kindness is to be especially kind to retail and service workers. Break out of the expected, scripted, cultural transaction. Compliment their earrings, make a joke that isn’t the same one they have heard 700 times that day, or stand up for them when another customer is rude.
Elliott Rynne
Hi! My name is Elliott and I’m from County Clare. I graduated this year from the University of Limerick with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Geography. I have of course always loved reading and writing but I also enjoy drawing, listening to music and watching my favourite TV shows on repeat. I am really excited to be part of the editorial team for ROPES this year and to gain an insight into the behind-the-scenes work of this iconic literary journal.
I would say that constantly adding to my ever-growing “To be Read” (TBR) list in my notes app is most definitely punk.'
Hope Austin
Hi! My name is Hope Austin. I graduated in 2025 with a BA in Theatre and minors in Music and Creative Writing & Journalism from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I have always been interested in thinking about literature through a performance studies lens, in recognizing the importance of the book as a physical artifact. This is why my room is full of books; I like to live on the cusp of hundreds of different worlds, amidst hundreds of people living their lives simultaneously on the page. As much as I love Galway, if you ask me about my hometown, I could talk about those Pennsylvania mountains forever.
I was raised a Quaker, so I am a massive believer that the concept of Inner Light is so very, very punk: that there is something of love that connects every single human being on the planet.
Mailis Dubois
Hi there! I am Mailis, a proud editor and podcast producer for the 34th issue of ROPES! After graduating from my joint BA in English Literature & Drama and Theatre at Aberystwyth University (Wales), I moved to London, where I completed my first Master's in Audiovisual Translation. However, I still had not found myself, so I decided to return to my deep-rooted love of Literature. My heart lies in fin-de-siècle fiction and its exploration of gender (hi, New Women). I enjoy writing poems that I lovingly call my "silly little poetry".
I think that picking up litter on the street is (really hot and) super punk — instant friendship material.
Eliza Stanley
Hi! I’m Eliza Stanley, and I’m from Louisiana in the southern United States. I graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in journalism and a degree in English literature. I love to read and write, of course, but I also love listening to ‘60s music, doing puzzles, and rewatching my favourite shows.
Something I think is very punk is crying openly in public, particularly on public transport.
Alva White
My name is Alva White and I am part of this year's editorial team. I'm from a small village in Laois and I studied English, Media and Cultural Studies in AIDT. I have always been a massive nerd for books and pop culture. When I was younger, I wanted to understand why things are the way they are. This has led me to saying "Fun Fact" far too often, even through to adulthood.
I think journalists publishing actual facts and women using their voices for others is punk.
Bianca Harris
Hi, my name's Bianca Harris. I moved to Galway from Luxembourg to do my undergraduate degree in English Literature and Modern Irish Cultural Studies. My love of learning and reading inspired me to do a Masters in English Literature and Publishing, and I am stoked to be on the editorial team of the ROPES journal. When I'm not studying or reading, I tend to be baking or scrapbooking.
I think my reluctance to throw away any piece of rubbish because I see its potential to be a piece of art in my scrapbook is punk.
Sales and Marketing Team
Niamh Kenny – Lead
Hello! My name is Niamh Kenny. I grew up in the very small Dolmen County - County Carlow. I graduated from SETU with a degree in Media & Public Relations in 2023. After graduating I spent a year working as a journalist. I then quit my job to go travelling and ended up in Australia for over a year (a rite of passage as an Irish person). I worked as a social media manager while I was living in Melbourne and loved the buzz of coming up with new marketing campaigns. I'm so excited to work on some TikTok's with this year's team.
I think it's very punk to quit your job, sell your things and buy a one-way ticket to somewhere you've never been (if I say so myself)!
Arjun Ramasubramanian
Hiya! My name is Arjun R. I'm from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and I completed my undergrad in English at The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. Working in any field in publishing would be a dream come true: there is nothing more wonderful than knowing you have, in some small way at least, contributed to a work of art. Books have been a major part of my life and I hope it stays that way. I still remember the first fantasy fiction book I ever read - which also happened to be the first book I ever read - and my passion for fantasy has only grown since. Outside of books I indulge in the genre through video games, television shows, and TTRPGs. Fun fact: I immediately forgot every single fun fact about myself while writing this.
Punk as a movement and culture absolutely fascinates me. I didn't know much about it before ROPES, but I've started to fall in love with this year's theme. I think the most punk thing about me is my absolute refusal to wear shoes even in an Irish winter because... surely it can't be that bad?
Amy O'Donovan
Hi! I'm Amy and I'll be on the Sales & Marketing Team this year, specifically in charge of social media. I did my undergrad in English and Spanish at Trinity and spent the last two years working at bookshops in Dublin hoping to somehow break into publishing before I discovered that there's a degree for that, and came to Galway to do the MALP. Other than reading, I'm obsessed with movies, learning new languages, and music (particularly bands like Talking Heads, Viagra Boys, The Strokes, Radiohead, and Black Country, New Road). I'm really looking forward to working with this year's ROPES team to bring you our Punk issue.
Gráinne Mahon
Hiya! My name is Gráinne and I am thrilled to be part of the marketing team for this year’s issue of ROPES. I am from Dublin and graduated from an English Literature and Sociology degree in 2023. I took a few years off to save some money and think about what I wanted to do, working as a barista and a bookseller. I am passionate about dogs in tiny coats and buying books that I will never get around to reading.
The most punk thing to me is getting dinner alone somewhere - I think we place far too much emphasis on needing to be in the constant company of others and not enough value on being able to enjoy your own company. If you spend your life waiting for others to join you, you’ll miss out on so much!
Production and Design Team
Nicole O Connor – Lead
Hi there! My name is Nicole, and I’m the Production and Design Lead for ROPES 2026! I’m from Mayo, and I studied English with Performance and Screen Studies for my undergraduate degree at the University of Galway. I am very passionate about the arts and all things creative. I grew up in a very artistic family, I was involved in music and drama clubs from a young age and I can play three instruments.
For me, punk means self-expression and standing up for what’s right. I’m very excited to be involved in the 34th issue of ROPES!
Ewa Majewski
Hi!! My name is Ewa, and I recently graduated with a BA in English & History from Münster University in Germany while I spent my final year studying in Dublin and then just... forgot to move back. I love reading those cringey romantasy books that people on the internet keep calling "the death of literature." If I'm not reading, I'm probably crying over old Eras Tour surprise songs or rewatching Hunger Games, Twilight, and Pride & Prejudice for the millionth time. I buy books faster than capitalism can crush my spirit and consider wearing a mini skirt in winter a character-building exercise.
I think that using a receipt as a bookmark is really punk - who even buys bookmarks?
Rian Upton Mescall
Hi! My name is Rian Upton Mescall, and I’ll be on the Production and Design Team for this year’s ROPES. I’m originally from Limerick, having finished a BA in Law and an MA in Creative Writing before starting with NUIG. I love all things creativity, including film, music, and photography. But writing is my main passion, and I love to write anything including prose, plays, poems and screenplays. Besides that, I love soccer and rugby, which means making my own life a misery by supporting Arsenal and Munster.
In terms of what I think is punk, I’ve always liked this quote from James Thurber: Why do you have to be a non-conformist like everybody else?
