Serra Wildheart

Mairéad Keenan

Fiction, Poetry, & ???

Mairéad Keenan is an Irish writer who first discovered her love for storytelling during the stillness of the 2020 lockdown. What began as a quiet personal outlet quickly grew into something more. Her debut poetry collection, Feel Everything with Love, was published in 2021, capturing a raw and tender chapter of her life. In 2025, she released her first novel, Bríd, a story rooted in Irish mythology, healing and the quiet courage of women.

Mairéad has no formal training in writing, but what she does have is a deep trust in her inner voice. Stories come to her fully formed, like dreams she has been carrying for years. She writes by listening closely, following the images, questions and characters that appear in her imagination. For her, writing is not just a craft but a form of therapy, a way to make sense of life and a bridge to connect with others on a soul level.

She has worked in science for over 20 years, and brings that same curiosity, patience and precision to her creative work. She describes her characters as lifelong companions who arrive to teach her something or show her a new way of seeing the world. Mairéad lives and writes in Ireland, drawing inspiration from the rivers, hills and quiet paths that surround her.

Books by Mairéad Keenan

Return to Star Junction Cover

Mairéad Keenan’s second poetry collection, Of Ferns and a Fearless Woman, carries the reader through four distinct seasons of the soul:

The Reckoning confronts the shadows, naming heartbreak, silence and the cost of staying small.

The Awakening stirs with light and breath, where new truths take root.

The Rising roars with courage and fire, a woman choosing herself again and again.

The Remembering returns to softness, earth and belonging. The place where wholenss is reclaimed.

With unflinching honesty, wry humour and deep tenderness, Mairéad writes of love, loss and transformation in ways that resonate far beyond her own story. Her poems invite you to feel everything — the ache, the anger, the hope, the joy — and to walk beside a woman who dares to face it all and stand fearless in her becoming.

My Story

 

Genre

I write mythical and historical fiction (Bríd), literary autofiction rooted in healing (The Shadows of My Heart), poetry that explores nature, resilience and spirit (Irish Poems) and gentle children’s stories (Muffin and the Baby Robin).

When did you start writing?

I began writing poetry in 2020, during a time of deep personal reflection. In 2025, I expanded into fiction, bringing stories to life that weave together emotion, mythology and the quiet strength of the human spirit.

What inspires you?

People inspire me. I love listening to their stories. The heartbreaks, the shocks, the quiet grief they have overcome. I am moved by the way people transform through their own tragedy, how they find light in the darkness when it seems impossible. It is in those raw and honest moments that I see the beauty of being human, not in perfection but in resilience, in softness, in the choice to keep going. Open hearts inspire me most of all, including my own.

Favorite Authors

My favourite author of all time is Roald Dahl. His imagination was my safe space as a child. He taught me how to get lost in a book, how it could be a break from reality, a bit of fresh air to get you through the day.

My favourite poet at the moment is Emily Dickinson. I find her story so moving. The way she lived such a quiet, secluded life yet managed to create a whole world through her poetry. A part of me longs for that too, the idea of being tucked away in a house somewhere, writing poems all day.

Favorite Books

How to Think Like a Poet by Dai George

Be Here Now by Ram Dass

Be Love Now by Ram Dass

Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

What do you love about writing?

I love the freedom it gives me to express myself without judgement. When I write, it’s therapy, playtime, exploration and hard work all rolled into one. I love the endless possibilities of what might come out of me, the surprise of it, the honesty of it.