Leontia Flynn
Encyclopedia
Leontia Flynn is an Irish
poet
born in Downpatrick
, Northern Ireland
. Flynn grew up in Ballyloughlin, south County Down, between the towns of Newcastle and Dundrum, very close to the well known Murlough Nature Reserve
. After studying for a year at Trinity College Dublin, she completed a degree in English at Queen's University Belfast, followed by a Masters at Edinburgh, before returning to Belfast to write her PhD thesis on the poetry of Medbh McGuckian
.
Flynn won an Eric Gregory Award
in 2001, and her first collection, These Days, was published in 2004. It won that year's Forward Poetry Prize
for 'Best First Collection'. In the same year Flynn was named as one the Next Generation poets by the Poetry Book Society
. Flynn was awarded the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature
in 2008 in recognition of her achievement and outstanding promise as a poet. Her book of poems, Drives, was published in the UK in August 2008 and was shortlisted for the 2009 Poetry Now Award
.
In their review for These Days, shortlisted for the Whitbread Award in Poetry 2004, the Whitbread judges wrote: 'A breathtakingly accomplished debut. These Days transforms Flynn's experiences into literary jewels. She has exceptional insight and the writerly rigour of a poet many years her senior'
In its description of Drives, Random House states: Her second collection of poetry is a book of restless journeys — real and imaginary — interspersed with sonnets on writers. Starting in Belfast, where she lives, she visits a number of cities in Europe and the States, each one the occasion for an elliptical postcard home to herself.
The Poetry Book Society comments on her inclusion in the Next Generation poets promotion: 'Her poems cover a wonderful range of subjects. She writes movingly about her father but is terrific at simply tugging away at a subject until it releases poetry... These are poems to move from room to room reading, just as we imagine they might have been written, by a poet remembering and discovering the world.'
Leontia's third work Profit and Loss is shortlisted for the 2011 T. S. Eliot Prize
.
Leontia Flynn currently lives in Belfast
. Since its inception, she has been a regular contributor of reviews and essays to The Vacuum
, a free monthly paper based in Belfast.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
born in Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Flynn grew up in Ballyloughlin, south County Down, between the towns of Newcastle and Dundrum, very close to the well known Murlough Nature Reserve
Murlough Nature Reserve
Murlough Nature Reserve lies on the coast of County Down in Northern Ireland, situated close to Newcastle. It offers spectacular views of Slieve Donard, the highest peak in the Mourne Mountains and Dundrum Bay. Its 6000-year old sand dune system has been managed by the National Trust since 1967,...
. After studying for a year at Trinity College Dublin, she completed a degree in English at Queen's University Belfast, followed by a Masters at Edinburgh, before returning to Belfast to write her PhD thesis on the poetry of Medbh McGuckian
Medbh McGuckian
Medbh McGuckian is a poet from Northern Ireland.-Biography:She was born the third of six children as Maeve McCaughan to Hugh and Margaret McCaughan in North Belfast. Her father was a school headmaster and her mother an influential art and music enthusiast...
.
Flynn won an Eric Gregory Award
Eric Gregory Award
The Eric Gregory Award is given by the Society of Authors to British poets under 30 on submission. The awards are up to a sum value of £24000 annually....
in 2001, and her first collection, These Days, was published in 2004. It won that year's Forward Poetry Prize
Forward Poetry Prize
The Forward Poetry Prizes were created in 1991. The aim of the prizes is to extend the audience for contemporary poetry. Until the T.S. Eliot Prize remuneration was increased to £15,000 plus £1000 to each of nine runners-up, the Forward was the United Kingdom's most valuable annual poetry...
for 'Best First Collection'. In the same year Flynn was named as one the Next Generation poets by the Poetry Book Society
Poetry Book Society
The Poetry Book Society was founded by T. S. Eliot and friends in 1953. Each quarter the Society selects one recently published collection of poetry for its members. The Society also publishes the quarterly poetry journal Bulletin, and it administers the competition for the annual T. S. Eliot Prize...
. Flynn was awarded the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature
Rooney Prize for Irish Literature
The Rooney Prize for Irish Literature was created in 1976 by the notable Irish American businessman, Dr Dan Rooney, owner and chairman of the NFL franchise, Pittsburgh Steelers....
in 2008 in recognition of her achievement and outstanding promise as a poet. Her book of poems, Drives, was published in the UK in August 2008 and was shortlisted for the 2009 Poetry Now Award
Poetry Now Award
The Poetry Now Award is an annual literary prize presented for the best single volume of poetry by an Irish poet. The €5,000 award is presented during the annual Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Poetry Now international poetry festival. The festival began in 1996 and the first Poetry Now Award was bestowed...
.
In their review for These Days, shortlisted for the Whitbread Award in Poetry 2004, the Whitbread judges wrote: 'A breathtakingly accomplished debut. These Days transforms Flynn's experiences into literary jewels. She has exceptional insight and the writerly rigour of a poet many years her senior'
In its description of Drives, Random House states: Her second collection of poetry is a book of restless journeys — real and imaginary — interspersed with sonnets on writers. Starting in Belfast, where she lives, she visits a number of cities in Europe and the States, each one the occasion for an elliptical postcard home to herself.
The Poetry Book Society comments on her inclusion in the Next Generation poets promotion: 'Her poems cover a wonderful range of subjects. She writes movingly about her father but is terrific at simply tugging away at a subject until it releases poetry... These are poems to move from room to room reading, just as we imagine they might have been written, by a poet remembering and discovering the world.'
Leontia's third work Profit and Loss is shortlisted for the 2011 T. S. Eliot Prize
T. S. Eliot Prize
The T. S. Eliot Prize for Poetry is awarded by the Poetry Book Society to "the best collection of new verse in English first published in the UK or the Republic of Ireland" in any particular year. The Prize was inaugurated in 1993 in celebration of the Poetry Book Society's 40th birthday and in...
.
Leontia Flynn currently lives in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. Since its inception, she has been a regular contributor of reviews and essays to The Vacuum
Vacuum newspaper
The Vacuum is a free bi-monthly newspaper published in Belfast, Northern Ireland by the arts organisation Factotum. Each issue is themed and contains critical commentary about the city and broader cultural issues. 15,000 copies of the paper are produced and distributed in bar, cafes and other...
, a free monthly paper based in Belfast.
External links
- http://www.poetrybooks.co.uk/PBS/pbs_flynn_leontia.asp - Naming It by Leontia Flynn. (Poetry Book Society website profile)