ABOUT
Neil Hegarty was born in Derry. He studied English at Trinity College Dublin, where he wrote a Ph.D. in postcolonial literature. After leaving Trinity, Neil travelled and worked for a travel website before becoming a professional writer.
Our Secret Streets (BBC Books), a social history of twentieth-century London written with Joseph Bullman and Brian Hill, is published in Spring 2012.
Story of Ireland (BBC Books), written to accompany a new BBC-RTE television history of Ireland, was published in February 2011. The North American edition is forthcoming from Thomas Dunne Press (Spring 2012).
Dublin: A View From the Ground (Piatkus, 2007) is an ambitious and sweeping history of the Irish capital from its foundation to the present day. Click on Press to read what the critics have said.
Waking Up In Dublin (Sanctuary, 2004) is an exploration of Dublin’s complex and vibrant music culture, encompassing everything from opera and jazz to the city’s indie and traditional music scenes. Click on Press to read some reviews.
Neil also writes essays and short stories:
Neil’s essay ‘The Slob Lands’ appears in A Wilder Vein (Two Ravens Press, 2009). This anthology, edited by Linda Cracknell, explores the relationship between humanity and the wild places of Britain and Ireland; click on News to find out more.
‘Oblique’ was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize, 2009;
‘Destroying Angel’ appears in the Warwick Review (December 2008; read more about the Warwick Review here);
‘The Fall of Saigon’ was published in the Stinging Fly (Winter 2007-2008; read more about the Stinging Fly here);
‘A White Christmas for Momma’ appears in the Autumn/Winter 2005-6 edition of the same magazine.
Neil was writer and co-producer of Talamh an Eisc: The Irish in Newfoundland, a radio documentary for RTE Lyric FM. His radio play The Story of Peggy Mountain, meanwhile, was shortlisted for the RTE PJ O’Connor Award.
Neil’s journalism and academic articles have appeared in a range of publications, including the Irish Times, BBC History, Fortnight and Daily Telegraph.
Neil Hegarty is a member of the Society of Authors; and is represented by Robin Wade at the Wade and Doherty Literary Agency.
