Portfolio

My mixed portfolio of work includes writing, journalism, tutoring, mentoring, and, when time permits, travelling.

Since 2007 I have tutored classes on travel writing at the Irish Writers’ Centre in Dublin and at Queen’s University, Belfast, where I also run travel and nature writing literature classes as part of the Open Learning programme. I tutor creative writing and broadcast journalism classes through Belfast Metropolitan College, and each spring lead weekend writing workshops to the Burren in Co. Clare. The workshops have nurtured, encouraged and inspired many people to develop their writing and have helped in getting their work published in magazines and journals.

I have facilitated workshops for the BBC’s ‘My Story’ competition (2009) and through Invest N.I. and the N.I. Arts Council have mentored students for writing. Since 2004, I have held a series of talks and workshops all over Ireland at arts festivals including the Immrama festival of travel writing in Lismore, Co. Waterford, the Boyle Arts Festival, the West Cork Arts Festival, and at Kinsale Arts Week. In 2008 I took part in an RTE series of Library Late talks on travel writing and travel writers at the National Library in Dublin.

I have given talks to a range of groups and organisations including Rotary Clubs, local history societies, libraries, walking and camera clubs as well as writing and book groups. I am available for talks and would be happy to facilitate any interested groups. My talks focus on Ireland’s topography and mountains, its literary heritage, journalism, creative writing in general, and travel writing in particular.

In 2008 I carried out corporate work for Shannon Development, and in collaboration with the award-winning photographer Marty Johnston, produced two brochures about Limerick city and county.

For Failte Ireland, in 2009, I researched and wrote an historical town trail walking guide to Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim: Click here.

In 2011 I researched and compiled a brochure on Lough Derg, a large lake in the lower Shannon region of the Irish Midlands, not to be confused with the pilgrimage island in Co. Donegal.

Lough Derg

My awards and residencies have included a four-month fellowship at Oxford University, based at Green-Templeton College; in 2006 I took up a residential stay at the Heinrich Boll cottage on Achill Island, County Mayo.

If you wish to book me for a talk, please contact me at the address in the Contact form on the website.