- John McGahern (1934-2006) Born in Knockanroe, near Ballinamore, McGahern was a novelist and short story writer, considered one of Ireland’s greatest modern authors. His works, including The Barracks (1963), Amongst Women (1990), and That They May Face the Rising Sun (2002), explore rural Irish life, family, and social change, often drawing on his Leitrim childhood. His memoir All Will Be Well (2005) reflects his deep connection to the county. He won multiple awards, including the Irish PEN Award.
- William Henry Drummond (1854-1907) Born in Mohill, Drummond was a Canadian poet of Irish descent, known as the “Poet of the Habitant” for his dialect poetry capturing French-Canadian life. His collections, like The Habitant (1897) and Johnny Courteau (1901), blended humor and empathy. His Leitrim roots influenced his nostalgic depictions of rural life.
- Anthony Trollope (1815-1882) Born in London but with strong Leitrim connections through his mother, Frances Trollope, who was born in Drumsna, Trollope was a prolific novelist. His works, such as The Warden (1855) and the Barsetshire series, are cornerstones of Victorian literature, exploring social and political themes. His mother’s Leitrim background influenced his Irish novels, like The Macdermots of Ballycloran (1847), set in Leitrim.
- Frances Trollope (1779-1863) Born in Drumsna, Frances was a novelist and travel writer, best known for Domestic Manners of the Americans (1832), a critical account of U.S. society. Her over 40 books, including The Widow Barnaby (1839), were popular in Victorian England. Her Leitrim upbringing shaped her early writing, and she influenced her son Anthony’s literary career.
- James McGloin (1801-1856) Born in Drumkeeran, McGloin was a Catholic priest and writer whose essays and sermons, published in Irish and American journals, addressed Irish emigration and Catholicism. His work, including contributions to the Irish Catholic Magazine, reflected his Leitrim roots and advocacy for Irish settlers in Texas, where he co-founded San Patricio.
- Susan Langstaff Mitchell (1866-1926) Born in Carrick-on-Shannon, Mitchell was a poet, essayist, and editor who contributed to the Irish Literary Revival. Her poetry collections, like The Living Chalice (1908), and her work with the Irish Homestead under A.E. (George Russell) explored Irish identity and mysticism, influenced by Leitrim’s landscapes.
- Mary Anne Sadlier (1820-1903) Born in Cootehill, Cavan, but raised in Leitrim (included due to significant Leitrim ties), Sadlier was a novelist and Catholic writer who emigrated to Canada and the U.S. Her works, like The Blakes and Flanagans (1855), promoted Irish Catholic values for immigrants. Her stories often drew on her early life in Leitrim’s rural setting.
Writers
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County Leitrim:
Ireland’s county Leitrim is a haven of waterways and unspoilt scenery, with the Shannon-Erne Waterway offering tranquil boating and fishing opportunities. Carrick-on-Shannon’s historic Costello Chapel and vibrant marina provide cultural and leisurely appeal, while Glencar Waterfall adds natural beauty. Leitrim is Ireland’s seventh smallest county by size (1,525 square km) and smallest by population (35,199). Population peaked at 155,297 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 25,057 in 1996. In terms of hospitality, Leitrim is Ireland’s 29th most visited tourist county with around 39,000 international visitors per year.
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