(Claire Lyons (Dagger) is a bilingual poet and novelist.Graduated from NUI Maynooth in 1981 she was awarded the Monastic Trust Scholarship to pursue an MA in Celtic Studies in 1982. In 2012, Lyons completed a PhD in Irish Studies at NUI Galway. She has published two poetry collections, Damhsa na nDuilleog (Coiscéim, 2000), Thar an gClaí Teorann (Coiscéim, 2004). Her published novels for teenagers are; An Phluais Ama (Cló Iar Chonnachta,1999), Filleann an Deamhan (Cló Iar Chonnachta, 2001), Lasair na Gréine (Coiscéim, 2006), Cine Shiabhra (An Gúm, 2010). The latter was part of the Foras na Gaeilge iniative for new books for Gaelscoileanna. In 2016, Lyons edited Scéalta agus Filíocht ó na Maidineacha Caife (Coiscéim, 2016) in celebration of the work of these groups in fostering the spoken language. Lyons has also contributed poems and stories to various journals and has read for RTE radio programmes Miscellany and Just a Thought. Lyons was awarded two bursaries from the Arts Council in the early 2000s and has won second prize at the Scríobh poetry competition (2005) and third prize for translation at Comórtas Filíochta na Samhna (2004).