Mairéad Byrne, born in Dublin, is an Irish poet who immigrated to the United States in 1994. Author of five poetry collections, and other works, she is a professor of

poetry Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

and

poetics Poetics is the study or theory of poetry, specifically the study or theory of device, structure, form, type, and effect with regards to poetry, though usage of the term can also refer to literature broadly. Poetics is distinguished from hermeneu ...

Rhode Island School of Design The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD , pronounced "Riz-D") is a private art and design school in Providence, Rhode Island. The school was founded as a coeducational institution in 1877 by Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf, who sought to increase th ...

Education

Byrne earned a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

in English Language &

Literature Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially novels, Play (theatre), plays, and poetry, poems. It includes both print and Electroni ...

from

University College Dublin University College Dublin (), commonly referred to as UCD, is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland. With 38,417 students, it is Ireland's largest ...

in 1977. She was awarded a Higher Diploma in Education from

Trinity College Dublin Trinity College Dublin (), officially titled The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, and legally incorporated as Trinity College, the University of Dublin (TCD), is the sole constituent college of the Unive ...

in 1994, before earning a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA or AM) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Those admitted to the degree have ...

in Literature and

Creative Writing Creative writing is any writing that goes beyond the boundaries of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature, typically identified by an emphasis on craft and technique, such as narrative structure, character ...

(in 1996) and a

Phd A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

in Theory & Cultural Studies (in 2001), both from

Purdue University Purdue University is a Public university#United States, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded ...

Poetry and other works

Byrne's poetry collections include ''You Have to Laugh: New and Selected Poems'' (Barrow Street 2013), ''The Best of (What's Left of) Heaven'' ( Publishing Genius 2010), ''Talk Poetry'' (Miami University Press 2007), ''SOS Poetry'' (/ Ubu Editions 2007), and ''Nelson & The Huruburu Bird'' (Wild Honey Press 2003); and the chapbooks ''State House Calendar'' ( Dusie Kollektiv/ Watersign Press 2009), ''An Educated Heart'' (Palm Press 2005),'' Kalends'' ( Belladonna 2005), ''Vivas'' (Wild Honey Press 2005), and ''The Pillar'' (Wild Honey Press 2000). In the ''Cambridge Companion to Twentieth Century British and Irish Women's Poetry'' (2011), Lee Jenkins situates Byrne's poetics "in the global circuitry of diaspora, migration, and the information superhighway," identifying as a significant accomplishment that "she refuses to choose between formal innovation and radical theme," fusing commitments to both social justice and linguistic innovation. In an interview with Sina Queyras Byrne said, "I consider my work firmly in the tradition of Irish comic literature, both in early Irish and 20th century prose, especially Beckett and Flann O’Brien."Sina Queyras, "A few words and poems Mairead Byrne," 30 April 201
Harriet, The Poetry Foundation
. Books in collaboration with visual artists include ''Jennifer's Family'' (Schilt 2012), ''Michael Mulcahy'' (Gandon Editions 1995), '' Eithne Jordan'' (Gandon Editions 1994), and ''Joyce-A Clew'' (Bluett & Co., 1982). Byrne is also the author of two plays, ''The Golden Hair'' (

Project Arts Centre Project Arts Centre is a multidisciplinary arts centre based in Temple Bar, Dublin, which hosts visual arts, theatre, dance, music, and performance. History Project Arts Centre was founded by Jim FitzGerald and Colm O'Briain in 1967 after a th ...

Dublin 1982), and ''Safe Home'' (Project Arts Centre 1985), both of which received production grants from the

Arts Council of Ireland The Arts Council (sometimes called the Arts Council of Ireland; legally ) is the independent "Irish government agency for developing the arts". About It was established in 1951 by the government of Ireland, to encourage interest in Irish art ( ...

/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon. She was a freelance journalist in Ireland (1978–1986), writing features and reviews for all major magazines and daily newspapers, including ''In Dublin'' magazine, the

Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It was launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is Ireland's leading n ...

, and Raidió Teilifís Éireann; and ''

The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture publication based in Greenwich Village, New York City, known for being the country's first Alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, ...

'' and'' Provincetown Advocate'' in the United States (1987–1988).

References

External links

SOS Poetry on UbuWeb"Some Differences Between Poetry and Standup" on UbuWeb
{{DEFAULTSORT:Byrne, Mairead 1957 births Living people Alumni of University College Dublin Rhode Island School of Design faculty