"In these dynamic, musically-arcing poems, Padraig O'Morain weaves his subtle, capturing narratives with the skill and relish of a natural story-teller. The poems in The Blue Guitar conjure all at once both the pathos of the individual human situation and all the echoes of the wider world beyond."
Jane Draycott

Praise for Padraig O'Morain's poetry:

"This is a quiet poetry, strong with the humours and occasional horrors of country life, affectionate but never sentimental, its music grave and necessary as time."
Alison Brackenbury

"The power of these poems isn't to be underestimated: their apparent simplicity arises from well-digested experience and a habit of accurate observation. Not a word is wasted, but there is tenderness and humour here and a very good ear at work."
Meg Peacocke

Padraig O'Morain's poetry has been published in anthologies and magazines in Ireland and the UK and broadcast on radio. His work gained a Poetry Business award in 2007 and the twenty winning poems were published as You've Been Great by Smith/Doorstop the following year. He grew up in Ladytown, County Kildare and comes from a family in which poetry has long been appreciated: his father composed verses in his head while he worked in the fields and his grandfather's poems are still read at family occasions. He lives in Dublin where he works in journalism and psychology. He has an MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University. He is married with two daughters.