Former pupil
By Ballyclare High School on 6 May, 2022
Former pupil Kelly McCaughrain is an honoured Children’s Author, having won the Northern Ireland Book Awards she was awarded the Seamus Heaney Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland. This two-year role was created by the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queens University Belfast and the Arts Council Northern Ireland to promote children’s reading and writing.
Her book Flying Tips for Flightless Birds has won huge acclaim in literary circles.
“This novel really does sparkle. It is witty and clever and packs a very well-aimed punch.” – Roddy Doyle
Kelly has won many national book awards including, the Children’s Books Ireland Book of the Year, Ireland Children’s Choice Award, Ellis Dillion Award, and the Northern Ireland Book of the Year 2019. The Guardian featured Flying Tips for Flightless Birds it in its Best New Children’s Books.
Kelly studied Psychology at Queens University Belfast, then another degree in English and Creative Writing and has been back to school to help the Creative Writing Club.