Born of Irish parents in London. Early childhood in Ballina and Ballaghaderreen (Ireland). Schooled in Connecticut and Massachusetts (USA). Returned to the home place in Ireland to live.

Worked some years in Tianjin (China). Before China, a specialist in Irish Studies and James Joyce; after, a specialist in Chinese thought, politics, and international relations.

Retired Full Professor, former Dean and former Director of the East Asia Studies & Research Centre of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). 

Senior Associate Researcher of the CIDOB Barcelona Centre for International Affairs and former Associate Professor of the Barcelona Institute for International Studies (IBEI).

Divides his time now between Barcelona (Spain) and Ballyconnell (Sligo, Ireland).

Published in Ireland in Cyphers, The Crane Bag and The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing, as well as The Drumlin,  Force 10, The Cathach II, The SHOp, The Stinging Fly, North West Words; author and editor of Maugherow, a much wilder place, Maugherow beneath the blowing sands, and The Book of Sligo.

Co-editor with Peter Fallon of Soft Day. A Miscellany of Contemporary Irish Literature.

Author and editor of Yeats and Asia. Overviews and Case Studies (Cork University Press, 2020).

Numerous translations of Chinese poetry, classical and contemporary, as well as publications in Irish literary journals, in addition to journals of Irish Studies and of Chinese Studies. 

Portrait by Patrick Graham