Audrey Magee
Audrey Magee simply has to write. It’s as essential to her, as breathing. It’s through writing that she works out what she thinks about the world and explores its many complexities. She conveys and illustrates these…
David Butler and Tanya Farrelly
When David Butler met Tanya Farrelly back in 2014, the writers hit it off at once. Within a month the friends became a couple and, shortly afterwards, Tanya moved into David seafront home in Bray. Two…
Louise Phillips
Louise Phillips has always wanted to write. And she started in her early twenties, when, having left school to start work at 15, she returned to education. She adored the craft, but before she’d had any…
Freddie Alexander
Freddie Alexander is not a typical children’s writer. The 35-year-old Dublin based solicitor was not a bookish child; he rarely reads these days – saying he simply doesn’t have the time, and there are no appropriately…
Caitriona Lally
It’s a warm September day when I meet Caitriona Lally in the garden of MOLI – the Museum of Literature, Ireland. It’s my first interviewing trip to Dublin since the pandemic hit. Caitriona arrives fresh from…
Declan Murphy
When Lilliput Press were preparing to publish The Spirit of the River, they were so impressed with Declan Murphy’s lyrical prose, that they suggested a literary prize winner should write the foreword. But Murphy wouldn’t agree….
Siobhan Macdonald
Some years ago, Siobhan Macdonald took a taxi ride from Long Island to the airport with a taxi driver who seemed out of sorts. When she told him that she was a technical writer, in New…
David Diebold
Shortly before Ireland’s first lockdown in March 2020, Molly, the Diebold family dog, was unable to get up. At 17, it was clear that her life was nearing the end. Knowing how much the dog meant…
Esther Freud
There’s a photograph in Esther Freud’s office of a beautiful young girl in first communion bridal glory. I noticed it on the shelf behind her as we talked of her latest novel, and she said it…
Eimear Ryan
Eimear Ryan started writing her debut novel, holding her breath, back in 2013, shortly after finishing an M Phil in Creative Writing. As a highly successful short story writer, however, Eimear found the longer form harder…
Kevin Power
At 28, Kevin Power was flying high. His debut novel, Bad Day in Blackrock, published in 2008 had won high acclaim. Add to this, his 2009 wins of both the Hennessy Award, and the prestigious Rooney…
Nuala O’Connor
I loved chatting to Nuala about Nora,’ her wonderful fictionalised account of the marriage of James Joyce and Nora Barnacle. To read my article, click here