Ruth Anne Cunningham: Doing it for herself

She left Dublin for LA at just 17 – and wrote music for everyone from Niall Horan to Britney Spears. But as she performs in Cork this weekend, Ruth Anne tells Ed Power she’s finally ready to take centre stage

Ruth Anne Cunningham has written hits for Britney Spears, Niall Horan and Westlife. But several years ago the Dubliner developed a nagging dissatisfaction with her life as in-demand producer and composer in Los Angeles. She wanted to express herself in her own voice rather than put words in the mouths of others. So she packed her bags and came home.