Unlegendary Heroes

The poems in the first part of Mary O'Donnell's new collection include a journey back to her South Ulster border past, variations on the theme of landscape and travel, and a number of meditative visions of the rituals of love. Other poems praise the heroism and endurance of human experience, both contemporary and historic, which O'Donnell connects to themes of childhood, love and death. At the same time she undertakes her quest with a characteristic sensuousness which will delight new readers, as well as readers of her previous work. Mary O'Donnell is an award-winning poet, novelist and short-story writer. Born in Monaghan, she graduated in Philosophy and German from Maynooth College in 1977, before undertaking post-graduate studies in German. She worked as a drama critic for some years and in 1994 was writer-in-residence at University College, Dublin. She subsequently completed a residency in Co. Laois and edited the first Laois Anthology of Writing. A consultant editor of W.P. Journal, she is also a well-known broadcaster. She is the recipient of an Arts Council Literary Award. She lives near Maynooth, Co. Kildare.