I was born in Cork, Ireland in 1984. The single most important thing that can happen to a Cork person.
I had the good luck to be born into a very funny and supportive family, that accepted me–the weird, quiet, ponderous child–as one of their own, which I was, so there wasn’t much of a decision involved.
I have several maladies but the funniest one is dyspraxia; it basically means I break everything–except your heart baby.
My two greatest passions are music and writing. You’ll find mainly my writing here. The EP is taking forever because of personal flaws.
The posh stuff is below, in case you need it.
Sarah x
Writer Awards & Residencies
● Literature Bursary, The Arts Council of Ireland (2026)
● Swerve Writer-in-Residence (2025)
● Design & Craft Council of Ireland Award (2023)
● Literature Bursary, The Arts Council of Ireland (2022)
● UNESCO Dublin Writer Award (2022)
● Digital Writer-in-Residence, West Cork Literary Festival (2021)
● Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation Writer Award (2021)
● UNESCO Dublin Award for Poetry Day in Prisons (2019)
● Literature Bursary, The Arts Council of Ireland (2016)
● Tyrone Guthrie Residency, Cork County Council (2016 & 2017)
● Travel & Training Award, The Arts Council of Ireland (2016)
● 2nd Prize, Fish Poetry Competition (2016)
● Individual Artists Bursary Award, Cork City Council (2015).
● 1st Prize, Doolin Poetry Competition (2015)
Publisher Awards (as founder and editor of The Well Review)
● Literature Capacity Building Support, The Arts Council of Ireland (2021)
● Arts Grant Funding Literature ,The Arts Council of Ireland (2018, 2020,
2021)
● Arts Grant Funding, Cork County Council (2019)
Education
● Master of Studies: Creative Writing University of Oxford (2017)
● Master of Philosophy: Criminology University of Cambridge (2008)
● Bachelor of Arts: Social Psychology and German Literature, Trinity College Dublin (2007)
I’ve also completed extensive training in mental health counselling, independent mental health advocacy, and am a certified restorative justice mediator.
Sarah Byrne 