Barry, Catherine
Catherine Barry was born in 1963 in Dublin. Her novels are The House That Jack Built (London, Simon & Schuster, 2001); Null …
MacSweeney, Marie
Marie MacSweeney was born in Dublin of Kerry parents. Her poetry chapbooks are Mother Cecily’s Music Room (Belfast, Lapwing, 2005); and Flying …
Neary, Annemarie
Annemarie Neary was born in Co. Down. Her debut novel is A Parachute in the Lime Tree (Dublin, The History Press Ireland, …
Rohan, Ethel
Ethel Rohan was born in Dublin. Her story collection is Cut Through the Bone (Seattle, WA, Dark Sky Books, 2010), which was …
Burkitt, Lisa
Lisa Burkitt was born in the USA to Irish parents, and grew up in Donegal. Her debut novel is The Memory of …
Murphy, David
David Murphy was born in Cork. A science-fiction writer, his first collection of stories was published as Lost Notes (Aeon Press, Dublin, …
Hijmans, Alex
Alex Hijmans was born in Heemskerk in Holland In 1975. He moved to Ireland when he was twenty years old and learned …
Costello, Mary
Mary Costello is originally from East Galway. Her first short story collection is The China Factory (Dublin, The Stinging Fly, 2012). She …
Alioth, Gabrielle
Gabrielle Alioth was born in 1955 in Basel, Switzerland, and emigrated to Ireland in 1984. Her novels are Der Narr ([The Fool], …
Azadeh, Carol
Carol Azadeh was born in Belfast in 1964. Her stories are collected as The Marriage at Antibes (Dublin, The Lilliput Press, 1999/New …
Bannister, Ivy
Ivy Bannister was born in New York City in 1951. Her short story collection is Magician (Dublin, Poolbeg Press, 1996). Many other …
Barrett, Anne
Anne Barrett was born in Co Clare. Her first film, Spring Cleaning (Channel 4/RTÉ, 1986), received two international film awards, including Special …
Barry, Kevin
Kevin Barry was born in Limerick in 1969. His story collections are There Are Little Kingdoms (Dublin, Stinging Fly Press, 2007), which …
Beckett, Mary
Mary Beckett was born in Belfast in 1926. She began writing in her twenties, first for the BBC, and then for literary …
Behan, Brendan
Brendan Behan (known in Irish as Breandán Ó Beacháin) was born in Dublin in 1923. He served in Borstal (juvenile prison) for …
Beirne, Gerard
Gerard Beirne was born in 1962. His novels are The Eskimo in the Net (London, Marion Boyars, 2003); and Turtle (Ottawa, Oberon …
Berkeley, Sara
Sara Berkeley was born in Dublin in 1967. Her collections are Penn (Dublin, Raven Arts Press/Canada, Thistledown Press, 1986); Home Movie Nights …
Binchy, Maeve
Maeve Binchy was born in Dublin in 1940. Her story collections are Central Line (Dublin, Ward River Press, 1977/London, Quartet, 1978); Victoria …
Boran, Pat
Pat Boran was born in Portlaoise in 1963. His poetry collections are The Unwound Clock (Dublin, The Dedalus Press, 1990), which won …
Bourke, Angela
Angela Bourke’s short story collection is By Salt Water, (Dublin, New Island Books, 1996). Her other books include Caoineadh na dTrí Muire …
Boyne, John
John Boyne was born in Dublin in 1971. His first short story was published by the Sunday Tribune and shortlisted for a …
Bowen, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Bowen was born Elizabeth Dorothea Cole in Dublin in 1899, taking her literary name from the family home Bowen’s Court, in …
Boylan, Clare
Clare Boylan was born in Dublin in 1948. She published four novels: Holy Pictures (London, Hamish Hamilton, 1993/ New York, Simon and …
Brennan, James
James (Jimmy) Brennan was born in Dublin in 1944. He was a member of the Stanislavski Studio at Focus Theatre from 1967-1969. …
Brennan, Maeve
Maeve Brennan was born in Dublin in 1917. Her father was Irish Ambassador to the United States and he brought his family …
Byrne, Patricia
Patricia Byrne was born in Mayo. Her narrative nonfiction is The Veiled Woman of Achill (Cork, The Collins Press, 2012). Her debut …
Cary, Joyce
Joyce Cary was born Arthur Joyce Lunel in Derry City in 1888, the family home being Castle Cary in Inishowen, Co Donegal. …
Casey, Eileen
Eileen Casey was born in the Midlands. Her debut poetry collection is Drinking the Colour Blue (Dublin, New Island Books, 2008). From …
Carleton, William
William Carleton was born in Prillisk, Co Tyrone, in 1794 to small farmers, and was one of fourteen children. His father was …
Chapman, Patrick
Patrick Chapman was born in Co Roscommon in 1968. His poetry collections are Jazztown (Dublin, Raven Arts Press, 1991); The New Pornography …
Clifton, Harry
Harry Clifton was born in Dublin in 1952. His poetry collections are The Walls of Carthage (Dublin, The Gallery Press, 1977); Office …
Collins, Michael
Michael Collins was born in Limerick in 1964. His stories are collected as The Meat Eaters (London, Jonathan Cape, 1992) published in …
Conlon, Evelyn
Evelyn Conlon was born in Monaghan in 1952. Her collections of short stories are My Head is Opening (Attic Press, 1987); Taking …
Connaughton, Shane
Shane Connaughton was born in Cavan in 1941. He trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and has …
Connolly, John
John Connolly was born in Dublin in 1968. His novels are Every Dead Thing (London, Hodder & Stoughton, New York, Simon & …
Cook, Emma
Emma Cooke was born in Portarlington, Co Laois, in 1934, christened Enid Blanc. The Blancs, of Hugenot descent, are immortalised in James …
Corrigan, Michael
Michael Corrigan was born in San Francisco in 1942. His books are a memoir, Confessions of a Shanty Irishman (New York, Publish …
Cross, Eric
Eric Cross was born in 1905 in Newry, Co. Down, but he was raised and educated in England where he became a …
Cullen, Leo
Leo Cullen was born in Tipperary in 1949. He has published a collection of short stories, Clocking Ninety on the Road to …
Deane, John F.
John F. Deane was born on Achill Island in 1943. His poetry collections are Stalking After Time (Dublin, Profile Press, 1977); High …
Devlin, Anne
Anne Devlin was born in Belfast in 1951. She won the Hennessy Literary Award in 1982 for her short story Passages, which …
Devlin, Martina
Martina Devlin was born in Omagh, Co Tyrone. Her novels are Three Wise Men (London, Harper Collins, 2000); Be Careful What You …
Donoghue, Emma
Emma Donoghue was born in Dublin in 1969. Her novels are Stirfry (London, Hamish Hamilton, 1994/New York: HarperCollins, 1994); Hood (Hamish Hamilton, …
Donovan, Gerard
Gerard Donovan born in Wexford and grew up in Galway. His collections are Columbus Rides Again (The Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare, …
Dwyer Hickey, Christine
Christine Dwyer Hickey was born in Dublin. Her novels are The Dancer (Dublin, Marino Books, 1995), short-listed for the Kerry Ingredients/Listowel Writers’ …
Enright, Anne
Anne Enright was born in Dublin in 1962. She has published two collections of stories, The Portable Virgin (London, Secker and Warburg …
Friel, Brian
Brian Friel was born in Co Tyrone in 1929. His short story collections are A Saucer of Larks (London, Gollancz, 1962) and …
Friel, Maeve
Maeve Friel was born in Derry in 1950. A prolific writer for children, The books in her Witch in Training series are …
Gillece, Karen
Karen Gillece was born in Dublin in 1974. Her novels are Seven Nights In Zaragoza (Dublin, Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005); Longshore Drift …
Glavin, Anthony
Anthony Glavin was born in Boston in 1946 of Irish heritage. He has been editor of New Irish Writing (1987-88) and more …
O’Connor, Bridget
Bridget O’Connor was born in Harrow, London. She was the second of five children of Bridie and Jim O’Connor, from Limerick and …
O’Faolain, Julia
Julia O’Faolain was born in London in 1932 to the writer Sean O’Faolain and children’s writer Eileen O’Faolain (née Gould). Her works …
Hamilton, Hugo
Hugo Hamilton was born in Dublin of Irish-German parentage. His novels are Surrogate City (London, Faber & Faber,1990); The Last Shot (Faber …
Hanley, Gerald
Although he claimed to have been born in Cork, Gerald Hanley was born in Liverpool in 1916, of an Irish family, but …
Hanley, James
James Hanley claimed he was born in Dublin on 3 September 1901, but was actually born in Liverpool in 1897 to Irish …
Harding, Michael
Michael Harding was born in Cavan in 1953. He has published two novels, Priests (Blackstaff Press, 1986), and The Trouble With Sarah …
Harrison, Shane
Shane Harrison was born in Dublin. He graduated from the National College of Art and Design in the early ‘80s and has …
Harte, Jack
Jack Harte was born in Sligo in 1944. His short stories collections are Murphy in the Underworld (Dublin, Glendale, 1986); Birds and …
Harrs, Norma
Norma Harrs was born in Belfast. She has published one novel, A Certain State of Mind (Toronto, Virgo Press, 1980). Her short …
Hayman, Carole
Carole Hayman* is well known both as an award-winning actress and theatre director. Her first book was a comic novel, All the …
Higgins, Aidan
Aidan Higgins was born in Celbridge, Co Kildare in 1927. He has written short stories, travel pieces, radio drama and novels. His …
Hogan, Desmond
Desmond Hogan was born in Ballinasloe, County Galway, in 1950. His novels are The Icon Maker (Dublin, Co-Op Books, 1976); The Leaves …
Jordan, John
John Jordan was born in Dublin in 1930. His poetry collections are Patrician Stations (Dublin, New Writers Press, 1971); A Raft from …
Jordan, Neil
Neil Jordan was born in Sligo in 1950. He has published one book of short stories, A Night in Tunisia (Co-Op Books, …
Judge, Michael
Michael Judge was born in Drumcondra, Dublin on 26 July 1921. He has written many uncollected stories, publishing these from 1941 to …
Keegan, Claire
Claire Keegan was born in Wexford in 1968. Her story collections are Antarctica (London, Faber and Faber, 1999/New York, Grove/Atlantic, 1999); Walk …
Kelly, Rita
Rita Kelly (var. Rita E. Kelly) was born in Galway in 1953. Her poetry has been collected as An Bealach Eadóigh (Baile …
Kelly, Maeve
Maeve Kelly was born in County Clare in 1930. Her short stories have been collected as A Life of Her Own (Dublin, …
Kenny, Adrian
Adrian Kenny was born in Dublin in 1945. His fiction is Arcady & other Stories (Dublin, Writers Co-Op, 1983); The Feast of …
Kiely, Benedict
Benedict Kiely was born in 1919, near Dromore, Co Tyrone. His short stories collections include A Journey to the Seven Streams (London, …
Kruger, Chuck
Chuck Kruger, born in 1938, grew up in the Finger Lakes of upstate NY. His short story collections include Between A Rock …
Kudryavitsky, Anatoly
Anatoly Kudryavitsky (pen name of Antholy Kudryavitsky) was born in Moscow in 1954. His father was of Polish origin; his mother was …
Lavin, Mary
Mary Lavin was born in Massachusetts, USA, in 1912, but she lived in Ireland from 1921, at first in Athenry Co Galway, …
Lawless, James
James Lawless was born in Dublin. His novels are Peeling Oranges (Mullingar, Killynon House Books, 2007); For Love of Anna (New Generation, …
Leland, Mary
Mary Leland was born in Cork in 1941. Her novels are The Killeen (London, Hamish Hamilton 1985); and Approaching Priests (London, Sinclair …
Leyden, Brian
Brian Leyden was born in Roscommon in 1960. He has published a book of short stories, Departures (1992); and a novel, Death …
Lynch, Brian
Brian Lynch was born in Dublin in 1945. His novel is The Winner of Sorrow (Dublin, New Island Books, 2005), about the …
MacIntyre, Tom
Tom MacIntyre was born in Cavan in 1931. A dual-language writer, his poetry collections include Blood Relations: Versions of Gaelic Poems of …
MacKenna, John
John MacKenna was born in 1952 in Castledermot in Co Kildare. His short story collections include The Fallen and Other Stories (Belfast, …
MacLaverty, Bernard
Bernard MacLaverty was born in Belfast in 1942. His novels include Lamb (London, Jonathan Cape 1980); Cal (London, Jonathan Cape, 1983); Grace …
MacMahon, Bryan
Bryan MacMahon was born in Listowel, Co Kerry in 1909. His plays include The Bugle in the Blood (Dublin, The Abbey Theatre, …
McCabe, Eugene
Eugene McCabe was born in Glasgow in July 1930 of Irish parents. His published plays for stage include King of the Castle …
McCloskey, Molly
Molly McCloskey was born in 1964 in Philadelphia, and moved to Ireland in 1989. She has published the collection of short stories, …
McCann, Colum
Colum McCann was born in Dublin in 1965. His stories include Fishing the Sloe Black River (London, Pheonix House, 1994/ New York, …
McCormack, Mike
Mike McCormack was born in London in 1965, but grew up in Sligo. His stories are collected as Getting it in the …
McGahern, John
John McGahern was born in Dublin in 1934, but moved to Leitrim as a child. His novels are The Barracks (London, Faber …
McMonagle, Alan
Alan McMonagle was born in Sligo and grew up in Longford. His first collection of short stories is Liar, Liar (Wordsonthestreet Press, …
McKinney, Blánaid
Blánaid McKinney was born in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, in 1961. She has published one short story collection, Big Mouth (London, Pheonix House, …
McLaverty, Michael
Michael McLaverty was born in July, 1904, at Carrrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, and was partly raised on Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim, before moving …
McNamee, Eoin
Eoin McNamee was born in Kilkeel, Co Down, in 1961. He has written two novellas, The Last of Deeds, (Raven Arts Press, …
McWhirter, George
George McWhirter was born in Belfast in 1939 and left to live in Spain in 1965. His poetry collections include Catalan Poems …
Macken, Walter
Walter Macken was born on May 3rd, 1915, in Galway. Originally an actor, principally with the Tadhbhearc in Galway, and The Abbey …
Maguire, Aisling
Aisling Maguire was born in Dublin in 1958. Her short fiction has appeared in several anthologies, including Raven Introductions 4 (Dublin, Raven …
Maher, John
John Maher was born in Dublin in 1954. His stories are collected as The Coast of Malabar (Dublin, O’Brien Press, 1998). His …
Malone, Martin
Martin Malone was born in Dublin. His novels are US (Dublin, Poolebeg, 2000); After Kafra (Poolebeg, 2001); The Broken Cedar (London, Scribner, …
Mathews, Aidan
Aidan Mathews (var. Aidan Carl Mathews) was born in 1956 in Dublin. His poetry collections include Windfalls (Dublin, The Dolmen Press, 1977); …
Millar DuMars, Susan
Susan Millar DuMars was born in Philadelphia in 1966. The first full collection of her poetry is Big Pink Umbrella (Cliffs of …
Mills, Geraldine
Geraldine Mills was born in Galway. Her poetry collections are Unearthing Your Own (Cork, Bradshaw Books, 2001; Toil the Dark Harvest (Cork, …
Millar, Sam
Sam Millar was born in Belfast in 1955. He novels are Dark Souls (Galway, Wynkin deWorde, 2003); Redemption Factory (Dingle, Brandon / …
Molloy, Frances
Frances Molloy was born in Derry in 1947. She left school at fifteen and was a nun for a time, before moving …
Moran, Stephen
Stephen Moran was born in Dublin in 1954. His first book is a short story collection, The London Silence (Pretend Genius Press, …
Morrissy, Mary
Mary Morrissy was born in Dublin in 1957. She has published one collection of short stories, A Lazy Eye (London, Jonathan Cape/ …
Mulkerns, Helena
Helena Mulkerns was born in Dublin but has lived abroad for much of her life. Her last posting was in Kabul with …
Mulkerns, Val
Val Mulkerns was born in Dublin in 1925. Her novels include The Time Outwork (London, Chatto and Windus, 1951/New York,The Devin-Adair Company, …
Ní Chonchúir, Nuala
Nuala Ní Chonchúir was born in Dublin in 1970. Her poetry collections are Tatoo : Tatú (Galway, Arlen House, 2007, previously collected …
Ní Dhuibhne, Éilís
Éilís Ní Dhuibhne was born in Dublin in 1954. Her novels are The Bray House (Dublin, Attic Press, 1990); Singles (Dublin, Attic …
O’Brien, Edna
Edna O’Brien was born in Co Clare. Her novels include The Country Girls (London, Hutchinson & Company 1960); The Lonely Girl (London, …
Ó Ceallaigh, Philip
Philip Ó Ceallaigh was born in County Waterford. His story collections are Notes from a Turkish Whorehouse (London/Dublin, Penguin Ireland, 2006), for …
O’Connor, Frank
Frank O’Connor (pen name of Michael O’Donovan) was born in Cork City on September 17, 1903. There is a poignant description of …
O’Connor, Joseph
Joseph O’Connor image was born in Dublin in 1963. His novels are Cowboys and Indians (London, Sinclair-Stevenson, 1991), which was shortlisted for …
O’Connor, Karen
Karen O’Connor was born in Millstreet, Co. Cork in 1965. Her first collection is Fingerprints (On Canvas) (Tralee, Co Kerry, Doghouse, 2005). …
Ó Faoláin, Seán
Seán Ó Faoláin was born in Cork in 1900. He was baptized as John Whelan, but adapted the Irish form of his …
O’Flaherty, Liam
Liam O’Flaherty was born at Gort na gCapall, Inishmór, the largest of the Aran Islands, in 1896. He wrote in English and …
O’Gaora, Colm
Colm O’Gaora was born in Dublin in 1966. His short stories have been widely published and broadcast and have been been collected …
O’Hagan, Sheila
Sheila O’Hagan’s began writing in 1984 while studying at Birkbeck College, London University. In 1988 she won the Goldsmith Award for Poetry, …
O’Loughlin, Michael
Michael O’Loughlin was born in Dublin in 1958. His poetry collections are Stalingrad: The Street Dictionary (Dublin, Raven Press, 1980); Atlantic Blues …
O’Reilly, Sean
Sean O’Reilly was born in Derry in 1969. He has published a collection of short stories, Curfew and Other Stories (London, Faber …
Plunkett, James
James Plunkett (James Plunkett Kelly) was born in Dublin in 1920. As well as fiction, he wrote radio and television features, and …
Powers, J.F.
J.F. Powers (James Farl Powers) was born on July 8th, 1917, in Jacksonville, Illinois, USA, and was married to the writer Betty …
Ridgway, Keith
Keith Ridgway was born in Dublin in 1965. He has published a collection of short stories, Standard Time (Faber & Faber, 2001); …
Roche, Billy
Billy Roche was born in Wexford in 1949. He was for many years a singer, fronting his own band, The Roach Band. …
Ronan, Frank
Frank Ronan was born in New Ross, Co Wexford in 1963. His first novel, The Man Who Loved Evelyn Cotton (London, Bloomsbury, …
Russell, Mary
Mary Russell was born in Dublin. Her books are The Blessings of a Good Thick Skirt (London, Harper Collins, 1986); Please Don’t …
Shaw, George Bernard
George Bernard Shaw was born in 1856 at 33 Synge Street, Dublin. His place of birth is now a museum in his …
Sheehan, Ronan
Ronan Sheehan was born in Dublin in 1953. His novels are Tennis Players (Dublin, Co-Op Books, 1977); and Foley’s Asia (Dublin, The …
Sheridan, John Desmond
John Desmond Sheridan (John D. Sheridan) was born in 1903. His novels include Vanishing Spring (Dublin, The Talbot Press/London: Rich ∓ Cowan, …
Smyth, Cherry
Cherry Smyth was born in Ballymoney, County Antrim and grew up in Portstewart, Co Derry. Her poetry collections are When the Lights …
Somers, Dermot
Dermot Somers was born in Roscommon, in 1947. His short story collections are Mountains And Other Ghosts (London, Diadem Books, 1990); At …
Stack, Eddie
Eddie Stack was born in Ennistymon, Co. Clare and emigrated to the United States in 1986. He settled in San Francisco and …
