Liam Mac Cóil is a writer and critic. He lives in the County Meath Gaeltacht of Ráth Chairn. He has written books, articles and essays on literature, history, the arts and television.

His novel An Dochtúir Áthas (1994) was the first Irish language book shortlisted for The Irish Times Literary Awards. Since then, he has written another novel, An Claíomh Solais (The Sword of Light), and a writer’s diary, Nótaí ón Lár, as well as An Chláirseach agus an Choróin: Seacht gCeolsiansa Stanford, a book about the composer Charles Villiers Stanford. His novel, Fontenoy won the Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin 2006 award.

As well as his work for adults, he has written a book in the series Scéalta Staire (Tales from History), Toirealach Ó Cearúlláin. He has also translated from the Welsh,Tiocfaidh Lá by Ffred Ffransis (Carbad, 1977), and Saibhreas Chnoic Chaspair by J. Selwyn Lloyd (An Gúm, 1981),and published the history of his own native place, The Book of Blackrock (Carraig Books, 1977, 1981). In association with Professor Ruairí Ó hUiginn, Liam edits the literary and arts journal Bliainiris.

Leabhar Breac published his latest novel, Bealach na Spáinneach in 2019, the final novel in the ‘Lúcás Ó Briain’ series of historical thrillers set in Ireland and the continent of Europe in 1612. The other two novels in the trilogy are An Litir and I dTir Strainséartha.

“There is no other novelist in Irish today who writes with the same care, precision and clarity.” — Alan Titley, The Irish Times