Aoife McKiernan

Aoife McKiernan, 26, grew up on the west coast of Ireland, where the presence of basking sharks — seasonal visitors to her hometown's shores — ignited her interest in the ocean.

Aoife was introduced to scuba diving whilst undertaking a Bachelor of Science in Health & Society at Dublin City University. Curious about people and their narratives, Aoife delved into qualitative research, and had the privilege of travelling to the U.K and New Zealand to contribute to research projects at the University of Manchester and the University of Otago. During her studies, she acted as the university club's Public Relations Officer, curating its media presence and organising fundraising campaigns.

Upon graduation, Aoife began working as a health researcher. As a certified Search and Recovery diver, she dedicated her spare time to serving her community as a member of a volunteer squad. Out of the water, Aoife established a monthly storytelling event, where people have the opportunity to tell true stories live in front of an audience.

Aoife is honoured to be the 2024 EU Media Intern and is excited to merge her passions of scuba diving and storytelling. During her internship, she hopes to capture and share some untold stories of our seas.