Michael Harding is an Irish

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

 short-story writer, novelist, and playwright, born in County Cavan

County Cavan

County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...

. He lives in Westmeath. He has published three novels Priest (1986) and The Trouble With Sarah Gullion' (1988) and'Bird in the Snow' 2008 He became a member of Aosdana

Aosdána

Aosdána is an Irish association of Artists. It was created in 1981 on the initiative of a group of writers and with support from the Arts Council of Ireland. Membership, which is by invitation from current members, is limited to 250 individuals; before 2005 it was limited to 200...

, the National Academy for Creative Artists, in 2000. He was Writer in Association with The National Theatre in 1993, was short listed for the Irish Times Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus Group Plc is the flag carrier of Ireland. It operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft serving Europe and North America. It is Ireland's oldest extant airline, and its second largest after low-cost rival Ryanair...

 Literature Award in 1989, and was Writer in Residence at Trinity College Dublin in 1999.
Harding has received the following awards:

• The Steward Parker Award for Theatre (1990)
• The Bank of Ireland
  Bank of Ireland
  The Bank of Ireland is a commercial bank operation in Ireland, which is one of the 'Big Four' in both parts of the island.Historically the premier banking organisation in Ireland, the Bank occupies a unique position in Irish banking history...
  
   RTE
  RTE
  RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
  
  award for excellence in the arts (1990)
• The Hennessy Literary Award for short stories (1980)
• Best Actor, Dublin Theatre Fringe Festival (2004) for his performance in Gare St Lazare’s production of Swallow.
• Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – British Theatre Management Awards (2006)
• The Tinkers Curse, nominated for Best New Play at the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards (2007)

Harding's play list includes;

THEATRE;

• Strawboys.Peacock – Abbey Theatre.1987
• Una Pooka.Peacock - Abbey Theatre.1989
• Misogynist.Abbey Theatre.1990
• Burying Brian Boru.Theatre Omnibus.1990
• Where the Heart is.Project Arts Centre.1993
• Hubert Murrays Widow.Peacock Abbey Theatre.1993
• The Kiss.Project Arts Centre.1994
• Ceacht Houdini.Amharclann de hIde.1994
• Backsides to the Wind.Red Kettle.1995
• Sour Grapes.Peacock - Abbey Theatre.1997.
• Amazing Grace. Peacock Abbey Theatre. 1998.
• Bog Dances. Steve Wickham and Shake the Spear Theatre @ Dunamaise Arts Centre 2000
• Sleeping a Lovesong@ Project Arts Centre 2002.
• Talking Through His Hat, Dublin Fringe Festival @ The Focus. 2002
• Swallow. Gare ST Lazare @ Dublin Fringe Festival. 2003
• Birdie Birdie, for BLUE RAINCOAT THEATRE, 2004.
• Tearmann for Siamsa Tire, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland. 2006
• The Tinkers Curse for LIVIN DRED THEATRE CO. 2007.
• Is There Balm in Gilead? @ Pavilion Theatre Dublin. 2007