Jessica Traynor Poetry

Jessica Traynor is an award-winning Irish poet, creative writing teacher, and dramaturg from Dublin. She has published three acclaimed poetry collections, including Pit Lullabies (2022), a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. Traynor was the 2023 recipient of the Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Award and serves as poetry editor at Banshee Press. A former Literary Manager at the Abbey Theatre, she has been Writer in Residence at Galway University and a UCD Creative Fellow. Her poetry explores themes of history, identity, and social justice, with work featured in The Irish Times, RTÉ, and BBC Radio 4, and translated into multiple languages.

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The Artane Band

Jessica Traynor’s ‘The Artane Band’ explores complex themes of silence and oppression in recent Irish history.

Jessica Traynor’s poetic style is marked by sharp, emotionally charged language that unearths hidden histories. 'The Artane Band' exemplifies her ability to challenge official narratives, exposing the dark realities behind Ireland’s institutional past while maintaining a lyrical and haunting quality.

Da used to swing me over the turnstile,

to see the Dublin matches. I remember

the sight of my own legs, dangling.

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