Irish novelist · essayist · teacher

Patrick
Holloway

Author of The Language of Remembering. Interlude is forthcoming from Eriu (Bonnier Books UK) in 2027.

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“Holloway is a rare and immense talent… the writing is sublime.”

— Donal Ryan

Books

Stories about how we connect to the people we love, and how we move on from the past.

Out now

The Language of Remembering

Returning from Brazil with his wife and daughter, Oisín is looking to rebuild a life in Ireland and reconnect with his mother, Brigid, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s. As her condition deteriorates, she starts to speak Irish, the language of her youth, and reflects on her childhood dreams and aspirations.

Mother and son embark on a journey of personal discovery and, as past traumas are exposed, begin to understand what has shaped them and who they really are.

RTÉ Top 10 Irish Books of 2025Irish Times: 25 books to look out for in 2025Irish Independent: 10 authors to watch in 2025

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“Holloway is the real deal. He’s a true novelist and this is an utterly readable book of real depth.”
The Irish Times

“Modern Irish writing at its finest.”
Irish Independent

“A powerful, original family story from a wonderfully talented writer.”
Irish Examiner

Forthcoming · 2027

Interlude

Three siblings. Three decades. One family story. Published by Eriu (Bonnier Books UK) in 2027.

Selected journalism

Books, culture, family and contemporary life.

Essays and features for The Irish Times, IMAGE, the Irish Examiner and others.

The Irish TimesBooks & cultureA brilliant book of fiction keeps breathing somewhere in the mind long after you close it IMAGEStyle & masculinityFor men, thoughtful dressing is conflated with self-absorption, queerness, or a lack of rigor The Irish TimesPersonal essayEvery time there’s a big change in my life, there’s one TV show I always return to IMAGEFatherhoodA father’s excitement at the back-to-school return to routine

Selected short fiction

The London MagazineThe Changing Light OverlandThe Lift, the Fox, and the Lilies Irish ExaminerChecked Luggage

About

A writer from Cork, working across fiction, essays and education.

Patrick Holloway is an Irish novelist, short-story writer, poet and teacher. His critically acclaimed debut, The Language of Remembering, was named one of RTÉ’s Top 10 Irish Books of 2025. His second novel, Interlude, will be published by Eriu (Bonnier Books UK) in 2027.

He is the 2026 Arts Council Writer in Residence at Maynooth University. His fiction has won the Bath Short Story Award, the Hennessy New Irish Writing Award and the Molly Keane Creative Writing Award, and has appeared in The Stinging Fly, The Moth, The London Magazine, Overland and Southword.

Patrick holds a PhD in Creative Writing and has taught at Maynooth University, the Irish Writers Centre, UCC and PUCRS in Brazil. He is also the founding editor of The Four Faced Liar literary journal.

Selected distinctions

Awards, residencies and recognition.

2026Arts Council Writer in Residence, Maynooth University

2025Irish Book Week Ambassador

2023Bath Short Story Award winner

2022 & 2024Arts Council Agility Award recipient

2021Molly Keane Creative Writing Award winner

2019Hennessy New Irish Writing winner

Work with Patrick

Teaching, editorial guidance and literary events.

Available for selected workshops, manuscript assessments, mentoring, interviews, panels and commissions.

Explore services

Creative-writing workshops

Courses and one-off workshops for universities, festivals, libraries and writing organisations.

Manuscript assessments

Thoughtful, practical editorial feedback for writers developing fiction and creative nonfiction.

Events and commissions

Author interviews, panel moderation, literary events and journalism across books, family, style and culture.

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