Hazel McIntyre was born and grew up on the Inishowen peninsula of Co. Donegal, Ireland. She was

John B Keane July 1999

the fourth of five children born to Robert and Marie McIntyre, at the family farm near Culdaff village. Hazel attended two local primary schools, until 1959, when she moved on to secondary school at Carndonagh, before going to Nurses Training College in London where she met and arried her London bred husband Charles. In 1977 they moved back to Ireland with their children.
School days feature in a lot in Hazel's early writings and being the only Protestant at Ballyharry primary school gave her much food for thought in later life.

Hazel McIntyre Ireland AM appearance March 2001

Hazel's mother was French Canadian and her stories and memories of growing up in Winnipeg made the family ties with Canada very real. Letters, photographs and gifts on birthdays kept the family bonds with the Canadian side of their heritage. Hazel recalls one birthday gift from her Canadian grandmother. "It was a snowsuit" she remembers. "That winter was a particularly mild one in Inishowen and I was desperate to wear that suit. So on a November morning with a sleety shower or two, I donned the snowsuit. The turf fire in the schoolroom was warmer than usual that day and then the sun came out.
Well, I sweltered for the entire day. But I still loved that blue Canadian suit."

Hazel began writing twelve years ago. As she explains, "Inishowen has a long tradition of storytelling. During the growing years storytelling around the turf fires was still the main source of entertainment. It was an art form in its own right. Sad to say, that way of life has all but disappeared and we are much the poorer for its passing."

Hazel Mc Intyre has published four books since 1994, and has just launched a fifth.

"Out of my four books, Lament in the Wind was my greatest challenge. The famine was without a doubt the biggest tragedy in our history and as my research went on I became totally engrossed in its scale. I hope the result is a fitting tribute to their courage."
Hazel and her husband Charles were special guests at The 17th Irish Festival, Miramichi, New Brunswick, in July 2000 where she re-launched Lament In The Wind, and conducted workshops, TV and radio interviews. Lament In The Wind has since been favorably reviewed by New Brunswick Newspapers.

Hazel as guest speaker at the Boston Banquet 1998

Hazel McIntyre's first work of fiction, For Love of Mary Kate was chosen by Woman's Way (Ireland's best selling women's magazine) as the most compelling read for inclusion in the '2000 Annual'. The abridged thirty-six page version of the novel was enhanced by beautiful, evocative photography.

Opening Cermony Miramichi Festival 2000 Canada

Hazel is also a regular contributor to BBC Radio Foyle and Radio Ulster and has entertained radio and TV audiences in Ireland, the USA, and Canada. Hazel also contributes regular articles and short stories for the local press and conducts workshops for mental health groups, students, Women's Institutes and other interest groups both in the Irish Republic and cross border.

For Love Of Mary Kate has been favorably reviewed on BBC's Kaleidoscope.

While in Boston,USA Hazel McIntyre was the guest on The John Clifford Show, (BNN TV), where she talked about her growing years in Donegal and her writings. This programme has since been

Arrival at the new Brunswick Ball July 2000

repeated by BNN.
Also while in Boston, Hazel was the guest on the IIC center's answer channel television programme

Iron Wheels on Rocky Lanes and For Love Of Mary Kate received an outstanding recommendation on RTE's, 'The Gay Byrne Show.'

Second level students in Ireland have used her writings as a textbook, and she has followed this up by giving talks to the students.

Hazel with Nobel Laureate, John Hume at the launch of her new Novel Secrets on the Breeze