Julie Irigaray
Writer. Teacher. Researcher.
Welcome to my website. As an author who lived in four different countries, I aim to create a better understanding of the world and our place in it — a mission which has cast me in many different roles: writer, teacher and researcher.
I am a Creative Writing Tutor, a PhD Candidate in English Literature and a Graduate Teaching Assistant at The University of Huddersfield. You can find out about my publications, experience, research, awards, and more on this website.
What's New
Summer 2022
I have two new poems coming out this summer:
My poem “O For a Night With Michele Apicella!” will appear in the latest issue of Magma on the theme of “Solitude”.
Poetry Wales has interviewed me to learn more about my creative process and the poem “Growing Up in a Garrison Town”. If you want to learn more about toxic masculinity and French military history, read it.
I will be teaching several courses at City Lit this autumn: A Taste of Poetry (17/09/22 - 18/09/22), Poetry Workshop: Intensive (20/09/22 - 25/10/22), Writing the Body in Poetry (05/11/22 - 06/11/22), and Writing women's experiences in poetry (19/11/22 - 20/11/22).
Finally, on 7-9th September 2022 I’m giving my paper "Ted Hughes's Depiction of Spain and France in Birthday Letters" at the 9th International Ted Hughes Society Conference taking place at the University of Huddersfield (UK).
More exciting news to come this autumn, I can’t wait to share them!
Whalers, Witches and Gauchos
My poetry pamphlet Whalers, Witches and Gauchos was published by Nine Pens Press last April.
Whalers, Witches and Gauchos explores narratives of displacement, the way we navigate between countries and cultures, and how where we come from makes us who we are. Using my Basque ancestors as a point of reference – these same whalers, witches and gauchos who travelled to the other side of the world or were persecuted – I conjure up my memories of living in the Basque Country, France, Ireland, Italy and the UK. This pamphlet depicts what it is to migrate between places and languages seeking homes that can both sustain us and allow us to grow.
