About Me
The sentries of imagination keep the way clear, think of the message of the earth, the calligraphy of trees, such things to be read on the road ...
Mary O'Donnell was born in Monaghan, educated at St. Louis Convent Monaghan and later at St. Patrick's College Maynooth. She holds a BA in German and Philosophy (Maynooth, 1977), has studied German to MA level and received a first class honours Higher Diploma in Education at Maynooth (1983).
She is the author of twelve books, both poetry and fiction, and has edited one book of translations (See Books Published). As well as the primary activity of writer, her career reflects other interests. She has been a teacher and has worked intermittently in journalism, especially theatre criticism. Her essays on contemporary literary issues are widely published. She also presented and scripted three series of poetry programmes for the national broadcaster RTE Radio, including a successful series on poetry in translation during 2005 and 2006 called 'Crossing the Lines'. Today, she teaches creative writing in a part time capacity at NUI Maynooth, and has worked on the faculty of Carlow University Pittsburgh's MFA programme in creative writing, as well as on the faculty of the University of Iowa's summer writing programme at Trinity College Dublin.
In December 2001 she was elected to the membership of Aosdana, the multidisciplinary
organisation of Irish artists which is administered by the Irish Arts
Council (An Chomhairle Ealaine). Aosdana honours artists engaged in literature,
music and the visual arts who have made an outstanding contribution to
the arts in Ireland.
She is a member of the Irish Writers' Union and has served for three years
as an external representative for arts and culture on the Governing Authority
of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
Mary O'Donnell now lives near Straffan, County Kildare.
