List of Irish women writers

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This is a list of women writers who were born in Ireland or whose writings are closely associated with that country.

A

• Mary Jane Adams (1840–1902), Irish-American poet
• Deborah Alcock (1835–1913), historical novelist, memoirist
• Cecelia Ahern (born 1981), novelist, short story writer
• Liz Allen (born 1969), investigative journalist, best selling novelist
• Sarah Atkinson (1823–1893), biographer, essayist, philanthropist

B

• Mary Barber (c.1685–c.1755), successful poet, author of Poems on several occasions
• Leland Bardwell (born 1928), poet, novelist, playwright
• Jane Barlow ((1857–1917), poet, novelist
• Henrietta Battier (c.1751–1813), poet, satirist, actress
• Mary Beckett (1926–2013), playwright for radio, short story writer, children's writer
• Sara Berkeley (born 1967), poet
• Maeve Binchy (1939–2012), novelist, playwright, short story writer, columnist
• Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789–1849), novelist, essayist, letter writer
• Eavan Boland (born 1944), poet, non-fiction writer
• Eva Bourke, German-born Irish poet since c.1985
• Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973), novelist, short story writer, author of Eva Trout
• Clare Boylan (1948–2006), journalist, critic, novelist, short story writer
• Maeve Brennan (1917–1993), short story writer, journalist, from 1934 in the United States
• Teresa Brayton (1868–1943), poet, contributed to American newspapers
• Patricia Burke Brogan, since c.1992, playwright, novelist, poet, artist
• Charlotte Brooke (c.1740–1793), poet, author of Reliques of Irish Poetry
• Patricia Burke Brogan (born c.1934), playwright, novelist, poet, artist^[1]
• Frances Browne (1816–1879), poet, novelist, children's writer
• Selina Bunbury (1802–1882), prolific novelist

C

• Caitilin Dubh (fl. c.1624), early poet, wrote elegies
• Moya Cannon (born 1956), poet, journal editor
• Ethna Carbery (1866–1902), poet, journalist, short story writer
• Amy Carmichael (1867–1951), missionary, many works on her work in India
• Marina Carr (born 1964), playwright
• Frances Power Cobbe (1822–1904), non-fiction writer, essayist, anti-vivisection and women's rights activist
• Anne Chambers, since 2007, novelist, screenwriter, biographer
• Mary Colum (1844–1957), literary critic, memoirist
• Helena Concannon (1878–1952), historian, non-fiction writer, politician
• Marita Conlon-McKenna (born 1956), children's writer, author of Under the Hawthorn Tree
• Isabella Valancy Crawford (1846–1887), Irish-born Canadian poet, short story writer, novelist
• May Crommelin ((1850–1930), novelist, travel writer
• Margaret Anna Cusack (1829–1899), nun, novelist, biographer, non-fiction writer, poet

D

• Annabel Davis-Goff (born 1942), memoirist, novelist, reviewer, now in the United States
• Mary Davys (1674–1732), novelist, playwright, author of The Reform'd Coquet
• Teresa Deevy (1894–1963), playwright, short story writer, also wrote for radio
• Polly Devlin (born 1944), novelist, short story writer, broadcaster
• Éilís Ní Dhuibhne (born 1954), novelist, short story writer, children's writer, playwright, writes in Irish and English
• Máirín Diamond (born 1957), poet
• Eilís Dillon (1920–1994), children's writer, historical novelist, wrote in Irish and English
• Emma Donoghue (born 1969), playwright, historian, novelist, now living in Canada, author of Room
• Mary Dorcey (born 1950), short story writer, poet, novelist
• Dorothea Du Bois (1728–1774), musical entertainment writer
• Ruth Dudley Edwards (born 1944), crime fiction novelist, journalist, broadcaster

E

• Charlotte O'Conor Eccles (1860–1911), novelist, short story writer, columnist
• Maria Edgeworth (1768–1849), novelist, children's writer, author of The Purple Jar
• George Egerton, pen name of Mary Chavelita Dunne Bright (1859–1945), short story writer, novelist, playwright, translator
• Anne Enright (born 1962), essayist, short story writer, novelist, non-fiction writer
• Erminda Rentoul Esler (c.1852–1924), novelist, short story writer

F

• Elaine Feeney (born 1979), poet
• Eleanor Ffrench (died c.1861), poet
• Patricia Forde (born c.1960), children's writer
• Anne Marie Forrest (born 1967), widely translated novelist
• Celia de Fréine (born 1948), poet, playwright, screenwriter, librettist, writing in Irish and English
• Katy French (1983–2007), model, television personality, columnist
• Tana French (born 1973), novelist, actress, author of In the Woods
• Alice Furlong [1866–1946), poet, feminist, wrote in English and Irish

G

• Ruth Gilligan (born 1988), best selling novelist
• Eva Gore-Booth (1870–1926), poet, playwright, feminist
• Sarah Green (fl.1790–1825), Irish-English novelist
• Augusta, Lady Gregory (1852–1932), playwright, folk story writer, poet, memoirist, travelled widely
• Frances Greville (c 1724–1789), poet, social celebrity
• Constantia Grierson (c.1705–1732), editor, poet, classical scholar
• Elizabeth Griffith (1727–1793), playwright, novelist, essayist, translator
• Beatrice Grimshaw (1870-1953), novelist, travel writer
• Vona Groarke (born 1964), poet

H

• Anna Maria Hall (1800–1881), playwright, novelist, short story writer
• Elizabeth Hardy (1794-1854), novelist
• Nancy Harris, successful playwright since c.2012
• Anne Le Marquand Hartigan (born 1940s), poet, playwright, painter^[2]
• Annie French Hector, 'Mrs. Alexander' (1825–1902), popular novelist
• Barbara Hemphill (died 1858), novelist
• Claire Hennessy (born 1986), young adult novelist
• Dorothea Herbert (c.1767-1829), diarist, poet
• Jane Emily Herbert (1821–1882), acclaimed poet
• Emily Henrietta Hickey (1845–1923), poet, writer on religion, translator
• F. E. Higgins, pen name of Fiona Higgins, novelist since 2007
• Rita Ann Higgins (born 1955), poet, playwright
• Margaret Wolfe Hungerford (1855–1897), popular novelist, short story writer
• Arlene Hunt (born 1972), crime fiction novelist

J

• Rosamund Jacob (1888–1960), diarist, novelist
• Anna Brownell Jameson (1794–1860), Irish-born British non-fiction writer, essayist
• Jennifer Johnston (born 1930), novelist, author of How Many Miles to Babylon?

K

• Julia Kavanagh (1824–1877), children's writer, novelist, stories mainly based in France
• Rose Kavanagh (1860–1891), newspaper editor, columnist, poet
• Cathy Kelly (born 1966), journalist, widely translated women's fiction novelist
• Maeve Kelly (born 1930), novelist, short story writer, poet
• Mary Eva Kelly (1826–1910), poet, emigrated to Australia
• Rita Kelly (born 1953), poet, writing in Irish and English
• Marian Keyes (born 1963), successful novelist, non-fiction writer, works widely translated
• Molly Keane (1904–1996), novelist, playwright
• Celine Kiernan (born 1967), young adult novelist, children's writer
• Margaret King (1773–1835), children's writer, non-fiction works
• Olivia Knight (1830–1908), poet, essayist, columnist, from 1860 in to Australia

L

• Lathóg of Tír Chonaill (9th century), poet
• Rosamond Langbridge (1880–1964), novelist, playwright, poet
• Maura Laverty (1907–1966), novelist, short story writer, journalist, broadcaster
• Mary Lavin (1912–1996), pioneering novelist, short story writer
• Emily Lawless (1845–1913), novelist, poet, biographer, historian
• Mary Leadbeater (1758–1826), poet, short story writer, biographer, letter writer
• Alicia LeFanu (born 1791), poet, novelist
• Alicia Sheridan LeFanu (1753–1817), playwright, published only one play: The Sons of Erin; Or, Modern Sentiment
• June Levine (1931–2008), journalist, novelist, feminist writer
• Liadain (7th century), poet
• Ruth Frances Long (born 1971), novelist, young adult writer
• Patricia Lynch (1894–1972), children's writer, journalist, short story writer

M

• Mary Stanislaus MacCarthy (1849–1897), nun, poet
• Máire MacNeill (1904–1987), journalist, folklorist, translator
• Catherine Mary MacSorley (1848–1929), children's writer for girls, religious works
• Harriet Evans Martin (died 1846), Anglo-Irish novelist, non-fiction writer
• Harriet Letitia Martin (1801–1891), novelist
• Mary Letitia Martin (1815–1850), novelist
• Violet Florence Martin (1862–1915), novelist, co-authored works with Edith Somerville
• Caitlín Maude (1941–1982), poet, teacher, actress, singer, wrote in Irish
• Eimear McBride (born 1976), novelist, author of A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing
• Felicity McCall, journalist, playwright since c.2004
• Nell McCafferty (born 1944), journalist, playwright, feminist
• Mary McCarthy (1951-2013), successful novelist
• Jenny McCudden, since c.2010, journalist, short story writer, poet
• Mary McDermott (fl. 1832), poet
• Jacinta McDevitt, contemporary best selling novelist since 2002
• Mary McDonagh (born 1849), poet
• Medbh McGuckian (born 1950), Northern-Irish poet, literary writer
• Anna McPartlin (born 1972), novelist
• Pauline McLynn (born 1962), actress, novelist
• Liz McManus (born 1947), politician, novelist
• L. T. Meade, pen name of Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Smith (1844–1914), prolific young adult and children's writer, mainly for girls, wrote over 300 books
• Paula Meehan (born 1955), poet, playwright
• Máire Mhac an tSaoi (born 1922), acclaimed Irish-language scholar, poet, translator
• Betty Miller (1910–1965), novelist, non-fiction writer, biographer, columnist
• Alice Milligan (1865–1953), acclaimed poet
• Susan L. Mitchell (1866–1926), poet, known for her satirical verse
• Sydney, Lady Morgan (1781–1859), poet, novelist, author of The Wild Irish Girl
• Rosa Mulholland (1841–1921), prolific novelist, poet, playwright, biographer
• Val Mulkerns (born 1925), novelist, journalist, columnist, broadcaster
• Iris Murdoch (1919–1999), Irish-born successful British novelist, philosopher, author of Under the Net
• Dervla Murphy (born 1931), touring cyclist, travel writer
• Elaine Murphy, playwright since c.2008
• Kathleen M. Murphy (died 1963), poet
• Maura Murphy (1928–2005), autobiographer
• Nora J Murray (1888–1955), poet, short story writer, school teacher

N

• Cláir Ní Aonghusa (born 1953), novelist, poet
• Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill (c.1743– c.1800), poet, lament in Irish
• Nuala Ní Chonchúir (born 1970), novelist, poet
• Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin (born 1942), poet, non-fiction writer
• Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill (born 1952), poet, writing in Irish
• Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh (born 1984), poet, writing in Irish
• Máiréad Ní Ghráda (1896–1971), poet, playwright, broadcaster
• Sorcha Ní Ghuairim (1911–1976), columnist, newspaper editor, teacher
• Máire Bhuí Ní Laoghaire (1774–1849), poet in the oral tradition
• Colette Níc Aodha (born 1967), Irish-language poet
• Sister Nivedita (1867–1911), nun, essayist, non-fiction writer especially on India

O

• Edna O'Brien (born 1930), acclaimed novelist, memoirist, playwright, poet, short story writer
• Kate O'Brien (1897–1974), nivelist, playwright, travel writer
• Helen O'Clery (1910–2006), children's writer
• Ellen Bridget O'Connell (1805–1883), poet
• Gemma O'Connor (born 1940), novelist, short story writer
• Mary O'Donoghue (born 1975), novelist, poet, translator
• Julia O'Faolain (born 1932), novelist, short story writer, emigrated to the United States
• Nuala O'Faolain (1940–2008), best selling novelist, journalist, television producer, critc, memoirist
• Sheila O'Hagan, poet since 1984
• Mary O'Malley (born 1954), poet
• Kathleen O'Meara (1839–1888), journalist, novelist, biographer
• Mary Devenport O'Neill (1879–1967), modernist poet, playwright
• Moira O'Neill, pen name of Agnes Shakespeare Higginson (1864-1955), popular Irish-Canadian poet
• Caitriona O'Reilly (born 1973), poet, critic
• Maureen Donovan O'Sullivan (1887–1966), educator, journal editor, historian

P

• Siobhán Parkinson (born 1954), children's writer, novelist, non-fiction writer, translator, writes in English and Irish
• Fanny Parnell (1848–1882), poet, known as the Patriot Poet
• Nannie Lambert Power O'Donoghue, (1843–1940), poet, journalist, novelist, social activist
• Mabel Cosgrove Wodehouse Pearse (born 1872), novelist
• Laetitia Pilkington (c.1709–1750), poet, memoirist
• Deirdre Purcell (born 1945), journalist, novelist, non-fiction writer, actress

R

• Grace Rhys (1865–1929), novelist, essayist, poet, children's writer
• Jessie Louisa Rickard (1876–1963), popular novelist
• Charlotte Riddell (1832–1906), influential novelist, short story writer, journal editor
• Regina Maria Roche (1764–1845), popular novelist, author of The Children of the Abbey
• Amanda McKittrick Ros (1860–1939), novelist, poet
• Margot Ruddock (1907-1951), actress, poet
• Roma Ryan, since 1982, poet, lyricist
• Elizabeth Ryves (1750–1797), poet, playwright, novelist, journalist, translator

S

• Mary Anne Sadlier (1820—1903), Irish-Canadian novelist, short story writer
• Blanaid Salkeld (1880–1959), poet, playwright, actress, salonist
• Eileen Shanahan (1901–1979), poet
• Elizabeth Shane (1877–1951), poet
• Eileen Sheehan (born 1963), poet, teacher
• Frances Sheridan (1724–1766), novelist, playwright
• Dora Sigerson Shorter (1866–1918), poet, sculptor
• Doris E. Smith (1919–before 1994), romantic novelist
• Annie M. P. Smithson (1873–1948), novelist, poet, autobiographer
• Edith Somerville (1858–1949), novelist in collaboration with her cousin Violet Florence Martin

T

• Jemima von Tautphoeus (1807–1893), novelist, focus on Bavaria
• Katherine Thurston (1875–1911), novelist, author of The Masquerader
• Mary Tighe (1772–1810), poet
• Melesina Trench (1768–1827), diarist, letter writer, essayist, poet
• Una Troy (1913–1993), novelist, playwright
• Katharine Tynan (1859–1931), novelist, poet, biographer

V

• Noelle Vial (1959–2003), poet
• Ethel Lilian Voynich (1864–1960), novelist, author of the successful The Gadfly

W

• Helen Waddell (1889–1965), poet, translator, playwright
• Catherine Walsh (born 1964), poet
• Ida L. White (19th century), poet, feminist
• Jane Wilde (1821–1896), poet, interested in folk tales
• Catherine Wilmot (1773–1824), travel writer, diarist, letter writer
• Maev-Ann Wren (born 1950s), economist, journalist, newspaper editor, non-fiction writer
• Frances Wynne (1863–1893), poet

Y

• Ella Young (1867–1956), poet, Celtic mythologist, children's writer, emigrated to California

See also

• List of Irish writers
• List of women writers

References

Lists of women writers by nationality Albanian Algerian Argentine Austrian Azerbaijani Bangladeshi Belgian Bolivian Bosnian and Herzegovinian Brazilian Bulgarian Colombian Chilean Croatian Cuban Czech Danish Dutch Ecuadorian Faroese Finnish French German Greek Guatemalan Hungarian Icelandic Indian Iranian Irish Italian Korean Latvian Lebanese Luxembourg Malaysian Mexican Moroccan Nicaraguan Norwegian Pakistani Palestinian Panamanian Paraguayan Peruvian Polish Portuguese Puerto Rican Romanian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Swiss Tunisian Turkish Ukrainian Uruguayan Welsh