Biography
A native of Derry, Northern Ireland, Irene Melaugh started writing poetry in the late sixties when she lived in Buffalo, N.Y. One of her earliest poems about The Troubles (BBC) in Northern Ireland appeared in The University of Buffalo in 1970. Others were published in a number of poetry books N.Y. State around the same time. After moving back to N. Ireland in 1971 she did not write anything until 1998 when she joined an all woman theatre group aptly named, “Stretch Marks Unlimited.” For the next five years Irene wrote and performed comedy sketches with the group in theatres north and south of Irelands border.
She began to be recognised as some one who had a real flair for comedy. Both community and statuary organisations employed her to write pieces on themes such as alcoholism, drugs depression and religion. The stipulation was always the same, make these subjects funny but not offensive.
In 2003 she wrote her first play, a semi biographical piece entitled, “Me Da’s Suit.” The play enjoyed great success and received critical acclaim. Her second play, “The Dumped Divorcee Support Group,” also succeeded commercially and critically. “Flick” followed in 2007. All three plays were hard hitting comedies about the trials and tribulations of life.
Irene has written two new plays and a pilot for a half hour television sitcom.