Although her formal artistic training has been in classical music as a composer and pianist, Ní Ríain is also a writer. She is published by Methuen Drama, Nick Hern Books and L'arche in France.

Her writing has been translated into French, German, Swedish and Irish where she is represented by Colombine Teaterförlag [Nordic territories] and Rowohlt Theater Verlag in Germany.

Her first play, BEATEN, premiered in Liverpool in 2007 and subsequently produced in Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, London and Germany to positive reviews. BEATEN is published as ‘Tilt’ by Nick Hern Books, UK.

Desolate Heaven was produced by Theatre503 in 2013 and published by Methuen Drama.  It received good reviews and led to a second production at the Everyman Palace Theatre in Cork in 2015. The play was short-listed for the James Tait Black Award.

The Tallest Man in the World was premiered by Corcadorca Theatre Company in Cork, Ireland in 2014. It was shortlisted for the Eugene O’ Neill Playwright’s Conference USA and was presented at Great Plains Theatre Conference USA. It's New York premiere, directed by Ran Xia, took place at The Tank Theater in New York in 2019.

Manifold received a reading at La Mama Theatre in New York. Corcadorca Theatre Company presented extracts from Manifold at the Theatre Development Centre in Cork, Ireland, and Bitterweed, received a rehearsed reading at The Everyman Palace Theatre in Cork in 2018.

In 2020 the French publisher L’arche obtained the rights to French language translation of The Tallest Man in the World and in 2021 The USA Premiere of I Used to Feel in New Hampshire, USA took place.

Reviews

“The writing is fresh and true, it nibbles and gnaws at the heart.” – The Guardian

“…a psychologically intriguing play…” – The Irish Examiner

“A significant talent.”  – The Irish Times

“An intriguing mix of fantasy and reality & performances that shine.” –The Telegraph

“Metaphor and irony resound throughout – you are, quite literally, embarking on something extraordinary.” – What’s on Stage

“Seeing The Tallest Man in the World should be high up on any theater fan’s list.” – Culturecatch.com [New York]

‘A bleak journey through a nightmare. The play is special. It requires attention.’  – Bohuslaningen, Sweden

“A perfectly­ pitched piece of theatre.”  – The Scotsman

“The Tallest Man in the World weaves a haunting, poetic tale of love and loneliness.”  – Theeasy.com [New York]

“Desolate Heaven is bold theatre.”  – The Huffington Post

“A thoughtful, intelligent and above all brave artistic voice.”  – The Irish Theatre Magazine

“Ní Ríain’s writing is superb”  – The Irish Examiner