Patricia Byrne is a Mayo-born writer who lives in Limerick, Ireland.
She writes narrative nonfiction and personal essays and is a graduate of the NUI Galway writer programme.
Her memoir essay ‘Milk Bottles in Limerick’ was named one of the Notable Essays of the Year in Best American Essays 2017.
Her latest historical nonfiction book The Preacher and the Prelate: The Achill Mission Colony and the Battle for Souls in Famine Ireland is published by Merrion Press (April 2018).
The Veiled Woman of Achill: Island Outrage and a Playboy Drama was published by The Collins Press in 2012:
‘Byrne has a good nose for a story and well-honed powers of description. An excellent judge of pace...’
Sunday Times
‘The gruesome tale of the “real” Playboy of the Western World.’
Irish Independent
‘A compelling tale which has all the ingredients of a classical tragedy, framed within the wild intimacy of an isolated community.’
The Mayo News
Patricia’s work has featured in New Hibernia Review, The Irish Times ‘Irish Woman’s Diary’, Sunday Miscellany, Irish Story, and a range of other outlets.
From New Hibernia Review's Facebook page, September 2017
Praise for Patricia Byrne's memoir from noted journal
“Congratulations to Patricia Byrne, whose memoir ‘Milk Bottles in Limerick’ in the Spring 2016 issue has been named one of the ‘Notable Essays of the Year’ in the newest Best American Essays volume.
“NHR’s tradition of opening each issue with a work of creative nonfiction is one of our most distinctive editorial practices, and this is the thirteenth such work from NHR to have made the ‘notables’ list.
“Byrne’s lapidarian essay deftly balances flashes of color against a dreary backdrop.”