Educated at Newtown School, Waterford (co-ed boarding) & Newpark Comprehensive, Dublin (co-ed day); left school two years early & worked in backstreet textile company, kitchen porter, printer & for 21 years in book selling (new & used; secular & religious).

Writing since 1973; had the opportunity to study creative writing at Wheaton College, Illinois for 6 weeks in 1981; came home, entered a national poetry competition (late). While typing a poem about how God blessed me in America that summer, one of the last telegrams in Ireland came to my door & shouted: WINNER! Married 26 years with two sons (& a stillborn daughter).

here's me reading 5 poems at Vicar Street, Dublin 2012:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSgVlGdBLcU