Aoife Burke

Aoife Burke pronounced as ‘eefa’ (born May 9, 1982) is an Irish journalist, writer, and author known for her contributions to the field of literature, particularly in the genre of science fiction and children's literature.

Aoife Burke
Birth date	1982 (age 42)
Birth place	Galway, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Occupation	Writer

Early life and education

Burke was born in Galway, Ireland, and showed early artistic and literary promise. As a child, she attended the Garvey School of Speech and Drama, where she studied up to Grade 8. At the age of 7, she won her first competition, a Community Games art competition, and had the opportunity to display her artwork to Eamon Casey, the Bishop of Galway at the time. During her teenage years, Burke continued to showcase her talents, winning a poetry competition titled "Care Life" at the age of 15, which was published in the local paper and archived in the digital archives for the West of Ireland.

After completing her secondary education, Burke pursued higher studies at Athlone Institute of Technology, earning a Higher Certificate in Applied Social Studies in Social Care. She took a hiatus from her academic pursuits, returning later to complete her exams and graduate in 2014. Burke achieved a ranking within the top 8% of the population on a standardized English language proficiency assessment.

Career

In October 2020, Burke made her literary debut with the publication of her first science fiction book, Luminess: The Island of the Moon, available on Amazon. The novel received positive reviews and marked the beginning of her career as a fiction author.

Burke's contributions to journalism and literature have garnered attention both nationally and internationally. In 2020, she was the runner-up in Ireland in the EU Sakharov Student Journalist Competition, showcasing her journalistic prowess and dedication to her craft.

Burke's talent and dedication to writing were further recognized when her book Luminess: The Island of the Moon was awarded the "Distinguished Favorite for Science Fiction" at the Independent Press Awards in New York in March 2022.

Continuing her literary endeavors, Burke expanded her repertoire with the release of two children's picture books, Cyril the Squirrel and Thumble Thistle the Bee. [Citation required]

In 2023, Burke released an audiobook rendition of "Daydreams of a Writer." The same year in August, she graduated with a degree in English and Journalism, solidifying her commitment to the craft of writing. She received an unconditional offer from the University of Glasgow, a member of the Russell Group, to pursue a Master's in Creative Writing, which she is set to commence in September 2024.

Awards and Recognition

In her time at the university, Burke's active participation in a radio show called Trivia Matters was noted in the student newspaper. Additionally, she received recognition as one of the recipients of the silver award from CRAOL – The Community Radio Forum of Ireland, specifically for her contributions to the Trivia Matters radio show.

In 2020, Burke participated in a Shine speaking words competition, securing placement within the top ten among 30 entrants.

Bibliography

• Cyril the Squirrel and the great oak tree - 2023
• The Adventures of Thumble Thistle the Bee - 2022
• Daydream of a writer - 2020
• Luminess - 2020