Michael Farry
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Michael Farry's first collection of poetry, Asking for Directions, has just been published by Doghouse Books, Tralee.
The launch takes place in the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim on Monday 21 May at 8 pm.
Copies of the book will be available there, can be purchased on the publisher's website and in Antonia's Bookshop, Trim.
Michael Farry was born in Coolaney, Co. Sligo in 1947. He attended Rockfield National School and St Nathy's College, Ballaghaderreen. He trained as a primary teacher in St Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra, Dublin 1966-68.
He served as a teacher in the following schools:
1968-70: Skerries BNS, Co. Dublin 1970-78: St Brid's NS, Boardsmill, Trim, Co. Meath
1978-84: Kilmessan NS, Co. Meath, 1984-99: St Michael's NS, Trim, Co. Meath.
From 1999 he was seconded as an ICT Advisor to Navan Education Centre.
He retired from teaching in September 2008.
He is married and has four children. He lives in Trim, Co. Meath.
He obtained a BA in University College Dublin in 1970 in Irish, English and Archaeology and was awarded a PhD in Trinity College, Dublin in 1999 for a thesis on the civil war in Co. Sligo.
He researched the history of his native parish of Killoran, Co. Sligo and published “Killoran and Coolaney – A Local History” in 1985.
He researched the history of the War of Independence in Co. Sligo and published “A Chronicle of Conflict: Sligo 1914-1921” in 1992.
He researched the civil war in Co. Sligo as a doctoral thesis in Trinity College, Dublin 1995-1999. This was published by UCD Press in 2000 as “The Aftermath of Revolution - Sligo 1921-23”.
His book on Sligo 1912-1923 will be published by Four Courts Press, Dublin in 2012 as a one of the first volumes in The Irish Revolution, 1912-23 series (Mary Ann Lyons & Daithí Ó Corráin, series editors).
Attending Rockfield NS c.1953
He has been writing poetry since 2004 and has been published in a number of small magazines and has been commended and shortlisted in a number of poetry competitions. He is a founder member of Boyne Writers Group.
He was a founder member of Trim Athletic Club and won a silver and two bronze medals in National Athletics Championships.
He is a stamp collector and his collection of stamps and covers on the theme of Ernest Shackleton was displayed at the Shackleton Autumn School in Athy Heritage Centre in 2005.
He is interested in the history of the Vikings in Ireland and set up but no longer maintains a Viking Network Ireland website.
He is interested in the music of Bob Dylan and has a Bob Dylan website.
PhD conferring Trinity College, Dublin 1999.