Maria O’Loughlin

Mini Bio

When I’m not guiding hikes or out in the woods, I’m a screenwriter and story consultant specialising in animation – primarily working for Disney, Nickelodeon and BBC. Before that, I did a dizzying array of jobs, from psychiatric care assistant, waitress, factory worker, and furniture seller to A-level psychology tutor, magazine editor, educational writer, local radio reporter and TV producer/director. I reckon they invented the term “chequered past” just for me.

I’ve lived all over the world, from Los Angeles to London, Paris to Barcelona, but Ireland never stopped calling me home, and now there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I love the quiet mystery of the landscape, our myths boasting bold Goddesses, and the knowledge that if you throw a rock around here, you’ll probably hit some Bronze Age monument, sacred stone circle, or holy well. There is a deep magic here, and it’s my pleasure and privilege to share it with others, whether through writing, guiding, creativity coaching, or running nature retreats.

Favourite Place to Play

The sea! Anytime, anywhere. I love wild swimming in traditional sea swimming spots around Dublin and Wicklow. I also love jumping into deep rivers and lakes in the heart of winter – especially if there happens to be a mobile sauna nearby. Delicious! Otherwise, you’ll find me hiking the many mountains of Wicklow, meditating in the woods, and generally hugging trees.

Not a lot of People Know This

I wanted to be a figure-skater when I grew up. The only problem was Ireland had no ice rinks at the time. Not one! So, when my ice-skating English cousin gifted me hand-me-down skates, I quickly turned them into an object of devotion. I all but built an altar for them. Whenever my mother went out, I’d sneak them on before going full Tonya Harding across the living room carpet. Said carpet was not impressed. My mother, even less so.