Poet Grace Wilentz reflects on resilience and connection to Irish culture after childhood loss

Poet Grace Wilentz reflects on her challenging childhood after losing both parents. Her father, a literary figure, died when she was 10, and her mother’s illness forced her to navigate instability and fear during her teenage years. Despite these hardships, supportive teachers helped her finish high school and pursue higher education. Wilentz credits her parents for instilling a love of literature, which guided her artistic path. Now living in Dublin, she feels a deep connection to Irish culture and literature. Wilentz is among the first non-Irish writers published by The Gallery Press, contributing to the diversification of Irish literature.