Westmeath writer, Theresa Ryder, is the eighteenth winner of the Molly Keane Creative Writing Award run by the Waterford Arts Office with support from the Arts Council. Her winning entry 'Becoming Free' was read by Theresa at a presentation ceremony during the IMMRAMA Festival, Lismore at which she was presented with prize money of €500 and a commemorative scroll.
Theresa was PA to the author, artist and playwright, J.P. Donleavy for six years until 2007 when she began a full time arts degree in Maynooth University. She graduated with a BA in history and classics in 2010 and continued on to complete a two year masters in classics for which she received a First Class Honours for her dissertation on ancient political history.
She is currently working on a novel based on the events of her dissertation and has been accepted to study for a H. Dip in Further Education in Maynooth University. She will begin teacher training in September 2015.
http://www.waterfordcouncil.ie/en/Resident/Arts/Arts,News,,Updates/MainBody,59665,en.html