Rachael Hegarty facts for kids

Rachael Hegarty (born 1968) is a talented poet and teacher from the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. She is well-known for her creative writing. Rachael also hosts a radio show called "Poetry People" on RTE Radio 1. She holds a special role as the Poet laureate for Dublin 1. This means she is like a special poet for that area.

Early Life in Dublin

Rachael Hegarty was born in 1968 in Broadstone, Dublin. She grew up in a big family, being the seventh of ten children. Her early childhood was spent living near the canals in Dublin. In May 1974, her family experienced a difficult event. After this, her family decided to move from the city centre to Finglas to feel safer.

Education and Adventures Abroad

Rachael went to primary and secondary school in Finglas. She studied with the Holy Faith sisters at Mother of Divine Grace and St. Michael's schools. When she was 18, she moved to Boston in the United States. There, she worked as a babysitter and earned a scholarship. This scholarship allowed her to attend the University of Massachusetts Boston.

In 1994, Rachael returned to Ireland. She earned her master's degree in Irish Literature from Trinity College Dublin. Sadly, her father, Charlie, who was an Irish Olympic Judo coach, passed away in 1996. After this, Rachael moved to Shimane, Japan. She lived and worked there from 1996 to 1999.

Rachael came back to Ireland again in 1999. She continued her studies at Trinity College Dublin, earning another master's degree, this time in Creative Writing. Later, she completed her Ph.D. at Queen's University Belfast.

Rachael's Career as a Poet and Teacher

Rachael Hegarty has loved writing since she was a child. She used to hide under the stairs to scribble down her thoughts and escape chores! Her father gave her a dictionary, and her siblings gave her pens and paper. For her 13th birthday, her mother gave her a book of poems by William Blake called Songs of Innocence and of Experience.

Rachael says that her mentor, Paula Meehan, really encouraged her to keep writing poetry. Besides writing, Rachael also teaches. She teaches English literature, language, creative writing, and academic skills. She works at the Trinity Access Programme and CDETB. Rachael believes it's important for all students, especially those who might feel left out, to be at the heart of education.

Published Poetry Collections

Rachael Hegarty has written several books of poetry. Here are some of her works:

• Wild Flowers on the Darndale Roundabout (2024)
• Dancing with Memory (2022)
• Making Sense of Finglas (2020)
• May Day 1974 (2019)
• Flight Paths Over Finglas (2017)

Awards and Recognitions

Rachael Hegarty has received several awards for her writing:

• The Shine Strong Award
• The Francis Mc Manus Prize
• The Over the Edge New Writer of the Year

In 2025, Rachael was also a co-selector and mentor for the Eavan Boland Award. This award celebrates the amazing work of Eavan Boland, who was a poet, a trailblazer, and a teacher.