Semple, Patrick

Patrick Semple was born in Wexford and was ordained by the Church of Ireland in 1967. He went on to serve in Belfast, Co Laois and Co Wicklow before moving to Dublin, where he served as chaplain at Mountjoy Prison, the Mater and Temple Street hospitals. He was also involved in The Adult Education Department of the Church of Ireland. He retired from the church in 1999 and now dedicates his time to writing. His first volume of memoir, Believe It or Not was published in 2002. He has contributed to a number of literary journals and has also published short stories and some of these have been broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 and Lyric FM. His first collection of poetry The Rectory Dog was published in 2006.