Ruth Gilligan
Encyclopedia
Ruth Gilligan is an Irish writer and actress, born in Dublin, Ireland
.
At second level, Gilligan attended St. Andrew's College, Booterstown
, and while there, she played Laura Halpin in the Irish soap opera Fair City
, and wrote the first of her two novels, Forget as a Transition Year secondary school project. After reading and editing by successful novelist Patricia Scanlan, and extensive rewriting, the novel was published in 2006 in the UK and Ireland, reaching number 1 on the Bestsellers' List, making her the youngest person in Ireland ever to have done so.
Achieving eight A1 grades in her Leaving Certificate
examinations, Gilligan continued her studies at Cambridge University achieving a first class honours degree in English Literature from Gonville and Caius College, and while in second year there published her second novel, Somewhere in Between, which has also recently been translated into German.
In January 2009, Gilligan was announced as the youngest ever recipient of an O'Reilly Foundation
Scholarship to pursue advanced studies in English literature.
Her third book was launched in Blackrock near Dublin in August 2009, following which she discussed her work, scholarship, lifestyle and the English Olympic fencing boyfriend Alex O'Connell
to whom the book is dedicated, in a live TV interview.
From 2009-2010 she attended Yale University
, earning an MA in English Literature. From 2010-2011 she was enrolled on the Creative Writing MA Program at UEA
.
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,...
.
Life
Gilligan's father is an accountant and her mother a speech therapist, her brother David is ten years her senior, and the family live in Blackrock.Career
She studied acting at the Betty Ann Norton Theatre School in Dublin from the age of six, and later secured theatre, TV commercial and short film roles.At second level, Gilligan attended St. Andrew's College, Booterstown
Booterstown
Booterstown,, is a coastal townland and civil parish, situated in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area of the former County Dublin, about south of the city of Dublin in Ireland.-Location and access:...
, and while there, she played Laura Halpin in the Irish soap opera Fair City
Fair City
Fair City is an award-winning Irish television soap opera on RTÉ One. Produced by Radio Telefís Éireann, it was first broadcast on Monday, September 18, 1989...
, and wrote the first of her two novels, Forget as a Transition Year secondary school project. After reading and editing by successful novelist Patricia Scanlan, and extensive rewriting, the novel was published in 2006 in the UK and Ireland, reaching number 1 on the Bestsellers' List, making her the youngest person in Ireland ever to have done so.
Achieving eight A1 grades in her Leaving Certificate
Leaving Certificate
The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
examinations, Gilligan continued her studies at Cambridge University achieving a first class honours degree in English Literature from Gonville and Caius College, and while in second year there published her second novel, Somewhere in Between, which has also recently been translated into German.
In January 2009, Gilligan was announced as the youngest ever recipient of an O'Reilly Foundation
O'Reilly Foundation
The O'Reilly Foundation is a personal charitable trust set up in 1998 by media magnate, and former CEO of Heinz, Sir Anthony "Tony" O'Reilly. Its function is the funding of educational projects; the two main work areas are capital developments at Irish colleges and an annual post-graduate...
Scholarship to pursue advanced studies in English literature.
Her third book was launched in Blackrock near Dublin in August 2009, following which she discussed her work, scholarship, lifestyle and the English Olympic fencing boyfriend Alex O'Connell
Alex O'Connell (fencer)
Alexander O'Connell is a fencer who competed for Great Britain at the 2008 Olympic Games. O'Connell was defeated in the first round of this competition.-References:...
to whom the book is dedicated, in a live TV interview.
From 2009-2010 she attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, earning an MA in English Literature. From 2010-2011 she was enrolled on the Creative Writing MA Program at UEA
UEA
UEA may stand for:Universities:* University of East Africa, which in 1970 was split into University of Nairobi, Makerere University and University of Dar es Salaam*University of East Anglia, the university in Norwich, England...
.