Michael McKimm
Encyclopedia
Michael McKimm is a poet from Northern Ireland
. His debut collection of poetry is Still This Need (Heaventree Press, 2009).
but lived from the age of seven on the north coast of County Antrim
, near the Giant's Causeway
and the town of Bushmills
. He attended Dunseverick Primary School and Coleraine Academical Institution, in Coleraine
, County Londonderry
, before moving to England to study English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick
.
from the Society of Authors
in 2007, awarded to the best poets in the UK under the age of 30. His poetry has appeared in many journals in the UK, including Horizon Review, Magma, Oxford Poetry, PN Review and The Warwick Review. His work is included in The Best of Irish Poetry 2010 (edited by Matthew Sweeney) and also in Dossier Journal (New York) in a collaborative project with his brother Alastair McKimm. In 2010 he was invited to the International Writing Program
at the University of Iowa.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. His debut collection of poetry is Still This Need (Heaventree Press, 2009).
Early years and education
McKimm was born in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
but lived from the age of seven on the north coast of County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, near the Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills...
and the town of Bushmills
Bushmills
Bushmills is a village on the north coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Bushmills had 1,319 inhabitants in the 2001 Census. It is located 95 km from Belfast, 10 km from Ballycastle and 15 km from Coleraine...
. He attended Dunseverick Primary School and Coleraine Academical Institution, in Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
, County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, before moving to England to study English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
.
Literary career
McKimm received an Eric Gregory AwardEric Gregory Award
The Eric Gregory Award is given by the Society of Authors to British poets under 30 on submission. The awards are up to a sum value of £24000 annually....
from the Society of Authors
Society of Authors
The Society of Authors is a trade union for professional writers that was founded in 1884 to protect the rights of writers and fight to retain those rights .It has counted amongst its members and presidents numerous notable writers and poets including Tennyson The Society of Authors (UK) is a...
in 2007, awarded to the best poets in the UK under the age of 30. His poetry has appeared in many journals in the UK, including Horizon Review, Magma, Oxford Poetry, PN Review and The Warwick Review. His work is included in The Best of Irish Poetry 2010 (edited by Matthew Sweeney) and also in Dossier Journal (New York) in a collaborative project with his brother Alastair McKimm. In 2010 he was invited to the International Writing Program
International Writing Program
The International Writing Program is a writing residency for international artists in Iowa City, Iowa. Since its inception in 1967, the IWP has hosted over 1,100 emerging and established poets, novelists, dramatists, essayists, and journalists from more than 120 countries...
at the University of Iowa.