Born in Loughrea, Co. Galway, in 1953, he grew up on the edge of a wetland meadow, or callows, whose flora and fauna have provided an enduring theme for his writing over some thirty years. Four previous collections have appeared, all from Dedalus, the most recent being Turane: The Hidden Village (1995) and Decoding Samara (2000). Principal of a large school in Ballyfermot, Dublin, he is also the author of a number of fiction titles for younger readers, including The Lost Orchard, winner of the Bisto Book of the Year Eilis Dillon Award in 2001.