Liam Mac Cóil


Liam Mac Cóil is an Irish language novelist, a critic, and an essayist.

Career

Born in Dublin in 1952, Liam Mac Cóil lives in the Gaeltacht of Ráth Cairn, County Meath. Before becoming a full-time writer he worked for a time at An Coiste Téarmaíochta. He is presently co-editor of the literary annual Bliainiris and director of the publishing house Carbad. He has written six novels as well as a writer's journal, Nótaí ón Lár.
Early in his career, he published two translations from the Welsh, Tiocfaidh Lá and Saibhreas Chnoic Chaspair. In 2010 he published a work of personal reflections on the composer Charles Villiers Stanford titled An Chláirseach agus an Choróin. His work has also appeared in the publications Comhar, Feasta and Aimsir Óg.

Awards and nominations

Mac Cóil's debut novel, An Dochtúir Áthas, was shortlisted for the Irish Times Literature Prize for Fiction in 1995, becoming the first Irish-language novel to be so recognised. His third novel, Fontenoy, won the Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin in 2006.

Published novels

  • An Dochtúir Áthas , Leabhar Breac, 1995
  • An Claíomh Solais, Leabhar Breac, 1998
  • Fontenoy, Leabhar Breac, 2005
  • An Litir, Leabhar Breac, 2012
  • I dTír Stráinséartha, Leabhar Breac, 2014
  • An Choill, Leabhar Breac, 2016.
  • Bealach na Spáinneach Leabhar Breac, 2020

Other published work

  • Tiocfaidh Lá, Carbad, 1977
  • The Book of Blackrock, Carraig Books, 1977
  • Saibhreas Chnoic Chaspair, An Gúm, 1981
  • Toirealach Ó Cearúlláin, Leabhar Breac, 1999
  • Nótaí ón Lár, Leabhar Breac, 2000
  • Bliainiris, Carbad, 2000 -2007