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Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee among new Queen's University Seamus Heaney Fellows

Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee
Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee

DERRY Girls writer Lisa McGee has been announced as one of three new fellows who will continue the legacy of Seamus Heaney's work.

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University Belfast has also appointed Grammy-nominated musician Iain Archer and author Lucy Caldwell.

Each year, the centre chooses three people from poetry, fiction, music, film and television to explore creative writing in all its forms by working with students, and contributing to the centre's activities within the university and wider literary community.

Lisa McGee is a stage and screen writer from Derry who studied drama at Queen's. She created the hit Channel 4 sitcoms London Irish and Derry Girls. She is currently working on writing the second series of Derry Girls.

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Iain Archer is a musician from Bangor who has received two Ivor Novello Awards. Lucy Caldwell is a Belfast-born author of three novels, several stage plays and radio dramas, and a collection of short stories.

Professor Glenn Patterson, Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre, welcomed the appointments.

"Each writer demonstrates excellence in their field, as well as an openness to learn from their engagement with students. It is hoped that their time at the centre will inform their future practice," he said.

"The fellowships represent a commitment by the centre to the encouragement and celebration of writing in all its forms and continues the legacy of Seamus Heaney's work."