Hilary Barrett

Born in Canada in 1982, Colin Barrett is an Irish Canadian writer whose career began with the publication of "Let's Go Kill Ourselves" in The Stinging Fly in 2009. His first collection of short stories, "Young Skins" (2013), set in the fictional County Mayo town of Glanbeigh, garnered significant critical attention and awards, including the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the Guardian First Book Award, and the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature in 2014. Barrett followed this success with "Homesickness" (2022), another collection of critically acclaimed stories, with most set in County Mayo and one in Toronto. His debut novel, "Wild Houses" (2024), was longlisted for the Booker Prize.

Barrett's early life involved moving between Canada and Ireland, and he pursued higher education at University College, Dublin, earning degrees in English and Creative Writing. Before his literary success, he worked in customer service and spent a decade struggling to complete writing projects. His work often explores themes and settings within Ireland, particularly County Mayo, though he also draws on his Canadian origins. Adaptations of his work include stage plays of "Bait" and "The Clancy Kid," and a film adaptation of his novella "Calm With Horses."

Colin Barrett launched his professional writing career with the publication of "Let's Go Kill Ourselves" in The Stinging Fly literary magazine in 2009. This initial success paved the way for his first collection, "Young Skins," released in 2013 by The Stinging Fly Press. This collection, comprising seven stories set in the fictional locale of Glanbeigh, County Mayo, received widespread critical praise. Barrett's subsequent collection, "Homesickness," published in 2022, continued this trend of critical acclaim with its eight new stories. Seven of these were situated in County Mayo, while one, "The Low, Shimmering Black Drone," was set in Toronto, reflecting his dual cultural background. His debut novel, "Wild Houses," published in January 2024, earned a place on the longlist for the prestigious Booker Prize that same year.

The critical success of "Young Skins" was underscored by numerous accolades. In 2014, Barrett was honored with the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the Guardian First Book Award, and the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature for this collection. Further recognition came in 2015 when the National Book Foundation named him one of their "5 Under 35." Barrett's work has also seen significant adaptation. Two stories from "Young Skins," "Bait" and "The Clancy Kid," were transformed into stage plays that premiered at the New Theatre in Dublin in 2017. Additionally, the novella "Calm With Horses," featured within "Young Skins," was adapted into a film that debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019.

Colin Barrett was born in Fort McMurray, Canada, in 1982, later relocating to Toronto with his family. At the age of four, he moved to Ireland, spending his formative years in Knockmore, County Mayo, alongside his four siblings and parents. During his adolescence in Ballina, he participated in Gaelic football. Barrett pursued his academic interests at University College, Dublin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2003, followed by a Master of Arts in Creative Writing in 2009, and an MFA in Creative Writing in 2015. Prior to his literary career, he worked as a customer representative for Vodafone between 2003 and 2008.