ABOUT – MOTH & BUTTERFLY

ABOUT MOTH & BUTTERFLY...

Moth & Butterfly is a storytelling and arts collective based in the west of Ireland. Our bi-monthly events feature different styles of storytelling, including personal, fictional, and improvised tales. Contributions come from the Moth & Butterfly Crew, guest artists, and audience tellers. We also host an annual International Festival of Storytelling and Improvisation, in late January/early February.

Moth & Butterfly brings together the art forms of both Storytelling & Improvisation.

In our regular nights, there are three types of Storytelling:

‘Moth’ style stories are short, true, thematic, and feature the teller themselves as the central character. A homage to the wonderful ‘Moth’ personal stories style, tellers tell for around 8 or 9 mins (but shorter is fine). Much more interesting to us than jokes or a yarn, we always prefer a story of something that had an impact on you, something important to you. It can be funny of course but by no means has to be. Think of it as a story that changed you in some way, however small, We love your truth, warts and all!

Improvised ‘Butterfly’ stories will be created fresh on the spot – no two are the same! We have different improvisational forms including: ‘ Stories From The Hat’ (where the audience picks an object for the story), and ‘Found in Translation’ (where the tellers improvise and translate bilingually). Free-Fall stories are all other stories that still fit the theme, be it a true story about someone else, a piece of fiction, a folk or fairy tale, or a tall tale. Moth & Butterfly is an event for oral storytelling, so no notes allowed, just pure story!

Our events are for both tellers and listeners, for without good listeners, there would be no good stories! There will be an opportunity for people to tell, and also just to sit comfy and enjoy the journey of imagination. Great stories invite us in for a listen. They don’t always have to be funny by any means (but they can be!). Stories draw from a wide emotional palette. We love to laugh, but also to cry, to growl, to gasp and to cheer! We invite people to tell stories from the heart.

“There’s nothing quite like this night in Ireland – thank you for putting it on, it is spectacular” ~ James (audience Member Bi-Monthly Event)

“This show was the highlight of our visit to Ireland” ~ Maura (Galway Theatre Festival Audience Member)

“A really lovely night – thank you for creating something very special, we’re already looking forward to the next one, and glad we discovered you!” ~ Michael (Culture Night Audience member)

WHEN CAN I GO?

Our regular Galway City events are generally every second month and usually on a Monday, so make sure you’re on the mailing list (sign up at the bottom of the page) and we’ll let you know when and where! Our festival dates for 2026 are January 29th – 1st of February, and details can be found on this website and on our social media. We also travel as guests of other festivals and events throughout the country. We are open to enquiries for Arts, Public and Private Storytelling & Improvisational Events.

HOW DID IT START?

Moth & Butterfly was founded in 2011 by Artistic Director Órla Mc Govern

“I wanted highlight the artforms of both storytelling and improvisation. This was unknown (for the most part) territory, but I felt the combination was a natural one.

When living in the US I’d experienced great ‘personal’ story nights (such as The Moth) and I pondered also setting these stories alongside our rich folkloric tradition back in Ireland.

I eventually came up with a structure for the night, where we would highlight oral storytelling (vs music/poetry which I also love, but I wanted to make a dedicated space for story). Within that strong scaffold we could explore personal, traditional and improvised stories, (and all the stories in between!)

The name, I thought, should reflect this. A creature with two different wings;’Moth’ being a homage to true tales, ‘Butterfly’ being about transformation and The Body Of The Beast/Freefall Stories connecting the two and representing Folk and Fiction. I approached a few friends (actors, writers, musicians as well as storytellers and improvisors), and we launched our first night in the wonderful Townhouse Bar in Galway!

Since then we have had different homes for our events including Ard Bia, Claddagh Cottage, The Cottage Bar, as well as numerous appearances as part of larger events, like with Body and Soul, Cooonacauneen Castle for Galway Theatre Festival, Nun’s Island with Cúirt, Athenry Heritage Centre etc. All with differing and wonderful memories. Our first scheduled festival concided with the the world closing its doors, so we took it online, and returned gradually to vibrant in person evens.

We have regular events througout the year in Galway, Ireland and beyond, and our annual festival has expanded to several venues each year. We couldn’t have done it without a loyal and warm audience base, who, along with visitors, provide the most important ingredient for storytellers – listeners!”

WHO ARE THE MOTH & BUTTERFLY 'CREW'?

ÓRLA MC GOVERN - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Órla is an award-winning Storyteller, performer and writer based in The West of Ireland. Órla performs, tells stories and leads workshops at venues small and large around the world. Her plays have been produced globally and she has written two books of stories ‘Dublin Folk Tales For Children’ & ‘Wild Waves & Wishing Wells’ (The History Press). She is a member of Galway collective Theatre 57 and of the Connemara Arts Collective Interface Inagh. As well as theatre performance, Órla acts for film and TV. Some credits include ‘Stay’, ‘Lily’, Sanctuary, and ‘North Circular Road’. She is a member of Ohana, the European Collective of Improvisors, and she loves to swim in the sea!

NICEOL BLUE - TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Niceol is a storyteller in song and spoken word. A singer, songwriter, writer, improviser and storyteller, she grew up in Pacific Northwest, an environment that shaped her performance styles. Niceol is a published poet and writer, and her music has been described as 'exceptional'. She is a founding member of Moth and Butterfly, and works both behind the scenes as well as on stage.

ROSE WOODS - PRODUCER

As well as being the Moth & Butterfly festival producer, Rose is a Social Entrepreneur, Managing Director, & Board Member to various organisations. An experienced worker for Non-Profits and Festivals, Rose is Passionate about female power and inclusion. Skilled in Project Planning and Management, Web management, Event Management, group Facilitation and Funding Proposals, she is the Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival Co Director, and Chairperson of Umoyo Moringa, a local women's group initiative to improve nutrition and health in their community, by growing Moringa in Bwelero Village, Nkhata Bay.