Published Poetry Collections

Published Prose:

Savage Solitude: Reflections of a Reluctant Loner, Dublin: Dedalus Press, 2013

For Children:

The Rescue, a four-part, serialised story for children, set to music by Fergal Carroll, was broadcast on Ireland's Lyric FM radio station in 2007, 2008 and 2019.

Other Publications and Collaborations

Translations:

Performance / Talks / Curation

I have been known as a performance poet since 1990, and have given many performances in Ireland, the UK, the US, and mainland Europe. Venues have included universities, theatres, cabaret settings, libraries, schools, open air, music festivals, television and radio. In 2012, I gave talks and performances at the universities of Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña and Vigo, in Galicia.

Recent performances include: PS2 Gallery, Belfast, September 2023; the European Poetry Festival, Newbridge, July 2022; Skerries Poetry Festival, September 2021; opening of the art exhibition, Homeland – Changing your Mind, at Damer House, Roscrea, August 2019; Phonica, Dublin, November 2018; the Franco-Irish Literary Festival, Dublin, April 2015.

I have been an active member of the literary community in Ireland since 1990, including curation of poetry events, Poetry Day competitions, and Culture Night programmes for Fingal Libraries from 2006 to 2022.

Workshops / Creative Writing Courses

My work in creative facilitation and pedagogy has been substantial and varied. I have given workshops and taught creative writing to all kinds of groups: children, teenagers and adults. I have had school residencies and many school visits. I have facilitated workshops at several literary festivals in Ireland and Britain, and at the Irish Writers' Centre, Dublin.

From January to March 2025, I ran a very well-received course in autopoetic essay for the Irish Writers' Centre online.

Prizes and Awards:

Educational Qualifications

Chronology

A life in writing.

2020s
2026
Dwelling — Macha Press, Belfast
New collection May 2026. A transhistorical poetic exploration of aspects of colonisation, pivoted on a photograph of the poet’s great-grandmother.
Book · Poetry
2025
Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill International Poetry Exchange
Residency awarded in A Coruña, Spain, September 2025 — a programme fostering exchange between Irish and Galician literary cultures.
Residency · International
2024
PhD Conferred — Dublin City University
PhD in English Literature (Creative-Critical), proposing the term autopoetic essay. Thesis comprised a book-length poetic essay and theoretical framework.
Academic · PhD
2020
Imbolg — Arlen House
Collection in four parts including a fifty-poem Lockdown Diary (March–April 2020) and the prize-winning 'Easter 2016'. Reviewed in Poetry Ireland Review 134.
Book · Poetry
2010s
2017
Parvit of Agelast shortlisted — The Pigott Prize
One of three books shortlisted for the Pigott Poetry Prize at Listowel Writers' Week 2017.
Prize · Shortlist
2016
Parvit of Agelast — Arlen House
A fantasy novel in verse informed by the paintings of Pauline Bewick. Reviewed by Medbh McGuckian and Philip Coleman (TCD).
Book · Verse Novel
2014
Pagan to the Core — Arlen House
Blurb by Paula Meehan, Ireland Professor of Poetry, 2013.
Book · Poetry
2013
Savage Solitude — Dedalus Press
Prose work in dramatic dialogues and aphorisms exploring the experience of solitude. 290pp.
Book · Prose
2011
Twelve Beds for the Dreamer — Arlen House
A zodiacal sequence mapping the inner life through the astrological calendar.
Book · Poetry
2000s
2008
When the Air Inhales You — Arlen House
Two-part collection including 'Flight', a requiem for the poet's sister who died suddenly in 2006.
Book · Poetry
2003
¡Divas! — Arlen House
Three-poet collection with Nuala Ní Chonchúir and Deirdre Brennan. Máighréad's contribution, 'Split', explores marriage, desire and connection.
Book · Anthology
2003
Performance Poetry and the Techniques of Ecstasy
Paper delivered at the University of Bath Performance Poetry Conference.
Essay · Conference
2001
That Realm Untenanted — Irish Spirit, Wolfhound Press
Essay on the Irish Famine
Essay · Published
1990s
1999
Tenant — Salmon Publishing
Historical narrative sequence following the fictional O'Sullivan family through the Great Famine, 1845–49.
Book · Poetry
1990
The Making of a Pagan — Blackstaff Press
Debut collection. Dream-like impressions of childhood, vivid portraits of love and sexuality, with rhythms taken from rock, reggae and rap.
Book · Poetry · Debut