I moved to the Sligo Rosocmmon border in 1999, and live in an old train station with my children, partner, and Lemmy.
I wrote anarchic zines for a few years on and off, then branched into poems, very occasional stories, and now trying plays and hoping to finish a novel.
The big news is: I'm half way through a degree in 'Writing+Literature' in Sligo IT, such an incredible course. Glad I waited all these years.
A founding member of the Millwheel Writers, Castlerea, who closed the doors recently after eleven years, I also facilitated a weekly writing group in south Sligo from 2012-2018; the Wrong Side Of The Tracks Writers.
I give readings and workshops, and taught a short beginners creative writing class for the Roscommon Women's Network. I judged the New Roscommon Writing Award 2015; the Roscommon Poets Prize 2017 for the Strokestown Poetry Festival; and the 2018 poetry competition for Roscommon Library on National Poetry Day.
In 2014 I founded The Hermit Collective; a group of fellow creatives and remotes, who come together to put on pop-up shows of poetry, art, music, stories, and more. We have played dozens of venues across the north west, and in 2016 were the overall winners of the prestigious Epic Award for Ireland.
Longer readings include O'Bheal sessions, Cork; The Teeside Book Festival, Middlesborough UK; local libraries; the Douglas Hyde Centre; and the Strokestown Poetry Festival 2017 and 2018; Women in Literature Symposium 2017; Nollaig na mBan event, Sligo 2018; Over the Edge guest reader, 2018; and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2018.
In 2013 I received an artists bursary from Roscommon County Council, to pay for the publication of my first chapbook Hellsteeth - available from this homepage. Click here to read a review of Hellteeth, by Afric McGlinchey.
With the proceeds I published A Skyful of Kites, reviewed by Emma Lee, also for the Sabotage website.. click here to read.
and then Snowbird -with thanks to the Ballaghaderren and Ballymote Libraries for great launches.
In June 2017 the UK small press Black Light Engine Room Press published a selection of poems from the above chapbooks, in a new pamphlet Fusebox.
"Pact" was supported by the council, and launched on December 8th by Gerry Boland in King House, Boyle.
My next book "SILVER SPOON" is coming out with Salmon Press in APRIL 2020.
Awards:
2020: Winner of inaugural Comórtas Filíochta Chultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich competition, with a poem translated to Irish by Olly Lenihan, and shortlisted for a second poem translated by Rossa O'Snodaigh
2020: short-listed for Doolin Writers Weekend poetry competition
2019: short-listed for Red Line Book Festival poetry competition
2019: short-listed for O'Bheal International Poetry Film Competition
2019: long-listed for the Bray Arts Festival poetry comp
2019: long-listed for the Over the Edge New Writer of the Year, for both fiction and poetry
2019: Runner-up for Poetry Ireland Love Your Bike comp
2019: Long-listed for Grindstone 12 x 12 comp
2018: Long-listed for Over the Edge new writer comp...
2018: Shortlisted for Cuirt New Writing Prize
2017: Winner of the Poetry Ireland/Butlers Chocolate Cafe Competition
2017: Shortlisted for Red Line Book Festival poetry comp. and longlisted for the Bray Literary Festival comp and the Westport Lit fest.
2017: Highly commended for the Galway Hospital's 'Poems for patience' competition
2016: Commended for the Iceland Writers Retreat alumni competition
2015: Shortlisted for the Over The Edge New Writer of the Year competition
2014: Shortlisted for the Free Wee Library bookmark competition! Featured twice in the Poetry For Spaces project. Long-listed in the Dermot Healy Memorial award.
2013: Shortlisted for the Hennessy Literary award; the Dead Good Poetry competition; long-listed for the Desmond O Grady and the Over The Edge competitions, and won third prize in the Red Line Book Festival
2012; Shortlisted for the Bradshaw Books manuscript competition.
2011: Winner of both the iYeats competition, and the Francis Ledwidge award. Also commended in the same iYeats for a second piece.
2010: Commended in a Leaf Books competition, and in 2009 commended in the Boyle Arts Festival competition.
Print publications:
Culture Matters anthology - 2019
Fifth Estate (US) - 2016, 2019
The North, Irish issue - 2019
Poet's Republic -2018
Roscommon Writer's Anthology - 2018
The Stony Thursday Book - 2018, 2015, 2013 and 2012
Bray Arts Journal - 2019, 2018
Poetry NZ - 2018, 2017, 2014
The Stinging Fly - 2018, 2016 and 2012
Ropes - 2018, 2016, 2014 and 2013
Stanzas chapbook - 2018
Poetry Ireland Pocket Poems -2017
Strokestown Poets Anthology -2017
Limerick writer's anthology 'Voices from the cave' - 2017
Ireland First, Relatives Remember (book)- 2016
Crannóg - 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Skylight47 - 2017, 2016, and 2014
New Irish Writing (Irish Times and Irish Independent) - 2015, 2012 and 2011
Yeats 150 - book about WB Yeats 2015
The Colour of Saying - Dylan Thomas anthology 2015
Agenda - 2015 and 2014
The Roscommon Herald - 2016, 2015 and 2014
Abridged - Desire and Dust issue 2011
Leaf Books magazine and anthology Balancing Act - 2010
Group project Mirror to the soul - 2010
US zine project A Poem A Day -2010
On-line publications:
Burning Bush2 #8
Triadae - in English and Spanish
Agenda - Requiem issue, web supplement
North West Words #2
The First Cut #7
Shot Glass Journal #7 #9 #11 #16 #20
The Galway Review. 2012, 2013 and 2014
Ink Sweat and Tears 2015
Incubator 2015 (flash fiction)
I was "Featured Poet International" for Muse-Pie Press (US) throughout 2016, and nominated by them for the Pushcart Prize and the Best Of The Net award. I also was featured on the poetry blog Poethead.
My poem Hellsteeth is installed in the Hawkswell Theatre, Sligo, and is published as part of a book about WB Yeats: Yeats150.
The same poem has been displayed in public places throughout Donegal, as part of Poetry For Spaces. As has another poem, Scan, and a third Clockwatching.
Time Machine, which I wrote in response to Tom Meskell's solo art exhibition,was on display beside his paintings, in the Museum Of Country Life, Castlebar, Co Mayo, from January until May 2014, and also in Philadelphia for a day!
My pamphlets are almost gone, but the new book Pact is available to buy from me directly; from this homepage; from Kennys.ie; and from shops in Roscommon- the Una Bhan craft shop, Boyle, and Strokestown Park House gift shop.
IRISH TV: HERE (to see local TV coverage of booklaunch, in Ballaghaderreen library)
