BIO

I was born in Dublin in 1970, where I still live.

I was first short-listed for the Hennessy awards in 1995 with my short story, Rosary, and then again in 2002, with The Soldier’s Song, which won the Emerging Fiction prize as well as the overall Hennessy New Irish Writing award.

My first novel, also called The Soldier’s Song, was based on this prize-winning short story and was published to wide acclaim in 2010. It was subsequently shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards and was followed by The Soldier’s Return(2011), and the Soldier’s Farewell (2012). These three novels comprise an epic trilogy that explores the most tumultuous period of Irish history, from the Great War through the War of Independence to the Irish Civil War.

I have also contributed book reviews to both the Irish Independent and the Sunday Business Post.

I am currently working on a new novel about the Spanish civil war.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Career Milestones

March 1995

Hennessy Literary Awards Shortlist

My first appearance in print. My short story Rosary published in the Irish Sunday Tribune and shortlisted for the Sunday Tribune Hennessy Short Story Awards Best First Fiction category. The Hennessy awards is one of the most prestigious Irish literary prizes. Previous winners include Joseph O'Connor, Niamh Boyce and Colum McCann.

April 2003

Hennessy Literary Awards Winner

Shortlisted once again for the Hennessy Literary awards, this time in the Emerging Fiction category. My Short story The Soldier's Song, which was centred on the execution of the novelist and Irish Republican Erskine Childers, went on to win both the Emerging Fiction prize and the Overall Hennessy New Irish Writing Prize.

Michael McLaverty Awards Shortlist

November 2008

My short story The Roadmenders, about the death of the war poet Francis Ledwidge, was shortlisted for the Michael McLaverty Short Story Awards in 2008.

January 2010

The Soldier's Song

My first novel was published by Pan Macmillan in January 2010. The Soldier's Song was later shortlisted for the Irish Literary Awards in the Best Newcomer category.