Eleanor O'Reilly is a teacher of English and Classical Studies who has just completed an MA in Creative Writing, at Manchester Metropolitan University. Having first started writing five years ago, she has received several literary prizes, including the 2015 RTE Francis McManus Radio Short Story Award and the 2013 William Trevor International Short Story Award, and has been shortlisted for several others, including the 2016 Colm Toibin Literary Award. She lives in Ireland with her husband Brian Kelly, their daughter Ella Kelly, and a whole menagerie of pets. M for Mammy is her debut novel.
Strong and taut - Literary Hub I really enjoyed this, Eleanor is a lovely writer - Sheila O'Flanagan M is for Mammy. It's also for Marvellous! What a wonderful story - in turns heart-breaking, heart-warming, and hilarious (which is not an easy combination to pull off). Also, Granny Mae-Anne is a FABULOUS creation . . . Eleanor, it's a glorious debut Channelling the warm heart and good cheer of Marian Keyes, this debut novel from O'Reilly . . . tells the very amusing story of the Augustt family. We meet the son who doesn't speak, the mother who's had a stroke, the granny who talks enough for the lot of them - and the daughter who's decided to write it all down. - Irish Independent A heartfelt debut about love, understanding and the complicated ties of family - Prima Rambunctious - Irish Times Lovely, sharp, compassionate, well-observed writing Rambunctious - Irish Times