Dr. Darran McCann

Assistant Professor in Creative Writing at DCU, delivering research-led teaching on all Postgraduate and Undergraduate programmes, including module coordination, curriculum development, and research project supervision. Academic with a PhD in Creative Writing from Queen’s University, Belfast, with key interest in contemporary and historical fiction. Published author, short story writer, produced playwright, and scholarly reviewer. Chair of M.A. Creative Writing programmes since 2013 (Queen’s University Belfast 2013-18, Dublin City University 2018-present.)

I’m a writer of prose, drama and journalism from Armagh. I've lived with my family on the northside of Dublin since 2018, when I came to DCU as Assistant Professor in Creative Writing to become founding Chair of the MA in Creative Writing. My novel, After The Lockout, was published internationally by 4th Estate (London) in 2012 and was shortlisted for the Goldsboro Book Award. My play, Confession, was produced at that Brian Friel Theatre, Belfast. Short fiction has appeared in The Stinging Fly, The Tangerine, Prole, and O’Brien Press's Surge collection. I have edited and published two anthologies of original creative writing work from my students, Blackbird Vols. 1 & 2 (2016, 2018).

Prior to my writing career I was a reporter with The Irish News, covering the declining years of Northern Ireland's decades-long conflict and its stop-start peace process. In 2010 I was awarded my Ph.D by Queen’s University, Belfast, the first time a PhD in Creative Writing had ever been awarded by an Irish university.

I’m a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin , and hold Master’s degrees from Queen’s University Belfast and Dublin City University. My proudest achievements are three crazy kids who keep me on my toes.