Michael O'Hara  

Michael O'Hara was Senior Lecturer in Education in the School of Education at the University of Ulster, Coleraine and Course Director for the Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in English with Drama and Media Studies. He took early retirement in October, 2004.

 He is a Licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London (LGSM) and a Licentiate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, London (LLAM). His undergraduate and postgraduate studies were largely in the areas of English, Drama and Theatre.

 He has been involved in Drama since his early days in College and during the late sixties was involved with Amateur Drama Groups in and around Belfast.   

After four years as Head of Drama/English at La Salle Secondary School, Belfast, he left N. Ireland in 1971 to take up an appointment at M. I. College of Education, Limerick and he remained there as Head of Drama until 1978.  During this period he continued with his involvement in amateur drama, and between 1973-76 (in a seconded part-time capacity), he was responsible for developing and teaching the first 3^rd level Theatre/Drama course in Ireland at Thomond College, now the University of Limerick.

 During the academic year 1978-79, he was Principal Lecturer in Education at the University of  Sokoto, N. Nigeria. He returned to N. Ireland and to the University of Ulster in 1980. 

A native of Derry City, he has wide experience in drama as a teacher, actor and director. He has adjudicated one act and three act festivals  in Ireland and Scotland.

 Among the major Festivals adjudicated have been N. Ireland One Act Finals, All-Ireland Confined Finals, RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Finals, British One Act Finals, All Ireland One Act Finals and Scottish One Act Finals. 

This year he adjudicated at Clare Drama Festival and Newry Drama Festival. In 2007 he officiated at Tipperary and Newtownstewart Festivals. In 2006 he attended West Waterford Drama Festival

He has written widely in the area of Drama in Education and has been involved in the training of teachers in the use of Drama for over twenty five years.

 Michael lives between Jalon on the Spanish Costa Blanca and Portstewart, Co. Derry and, in both places , is within easy reach of some of the best golf courses in Europe!