Damian Smyth (Ireland) was previously a Committee Member of the John Hewitt Society and last read for the Society at the 2019 John Hewitt Birthday Reading, alongside Moyra Donaldson and Maureen Boyle.

Damian is currently Head of Literature and Drama for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and is respected across Ireland for his sustained and generous encouragement of emerging and established writers. He is also a highly regarded poet.

He was first published by Lagan Press: “Downpatrick Races” (2000): “The “Down Recorder” (2004); and “Lamentations” and “Market Street” (2010). He is now published by Templar Poetry (Derbyshire): “Apparitions: A Hurricane” (2013); “Mesopotamia” (2014); and “English Street” (2018). “Irish Street” is forthcoming in 2021.

Damian edited “Joseph Tomelty: Collected Plays” (Lagan, 2011): “John Hewitt: Two Plays” (Lagan, 2000); and “Martin Lynch: Three Plays” (Lagan, 1996). “His own play, “Soldiers of the Queen,” was part of the Belfast Festival at Queen’s in 2002 and was published by Lagan in 2003.

All of Damian works, including earlier collections and his play, are available from Templar Poetry.