Writer in Residence 2008/2009

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Public Library Service is proud to announce poet Paul Perry as our Writer in Residence for 2008/2009

Paul's blog can be found at http://theorchidkeeper.blogspot.com

Paul Perry was born in Dublin in 1972. A graduate of Brown University, he has been a James Michener Fellow of Creative Writing at The University of Miami and a Cambor Fellow of Poetry at The University of Houston. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Poetry Ireland Review, TLS, Granta, The Best Irish Poetry 2007, and The Best American Poetry 2000.

A recipient of the Hennessy New Irish Writer of the Year Award for his short story The Judge, which was later collected in The New Hennessy Book of Irish Fiction, Perry's first book of poetry The Drowning of the Saints was published in 2003 to critical acclaim and was short-listed for the Rupert and Eithne Strong Award for Best First Collection at the DLR Poetry Now Festival in Dún Laoghaire. It was subsequently awarded The Listowel Prize for Poetry.

Paul has been a Writer in Residence for Co. Longford, Rathlin Island and from 2003-2006 for the University of Ulster, where he is currently a Vice Chancellor Research Scholar. He also teaches for the MFA Programme in Creative Writing at Kingston University London. Since 2004, he has been Programme Director for Aspects Literature Festival in Bangor, Co. Down, Northern Ireland. He is also the Editor of The Best of Irish Poetry 2009.

Paul will be running creative writing workshops in Deansgrange Library from Tuesday 21st October, 6pm to 8pm. Workshops will continue fortnightly until Christmas. Creative writing workshops for children will be held in the new year. Paul will also be available to offer one-to-one support to aspiring writers and will be hosting a creative writing blog, so please keep an eye on our website at www.dlrcoco.ie/library for further details.

For further information please contact Philip Duggan in DLR Library HQ on 01-2781788 or pduggan@dlrcoco.ie