I am a writer/ historian and community arts organiser, with particular interest in matters of spirit.

My books include an historical novel about the twelth century mystic and musician Hildegard of Bingen. The King's Daughter was reviewed by the Sydney Morning Herald as 'Here is surprise, delight and instruction in skillfully blended harmony. Mary O’Connell has brought off the feat of recreating an entire society triumphantly. The achievement is extraordinary. … This is a delight, and, I’m prepared to bet, unlike anything you have read before.’

Also - a history of an Irish Australian mystic, Eileen O’Connor (1892-1921). Published as Our Lady of Coogee by Crossing Press in 2009, it was described by Professor Alison Bashford, Chair of Australian Studies at Harvard University as ‘a substantive social and interior history - of romance, conflict, love, sacrifice and pain. This is a work of extraordinary literary as well as intellectual skill.'

I am currently working on a layered text which moves between 21st century Sydney and late 19th century Ireland – in particular the period of the Irish Land War of 1879 – 1882, exploring the luminous almost Christological figure of Michael Davitt, and the less historically illuminated figure of Anna Parnell and the Ladies Land League.

Next project is a photographic and poetic celebration of Sydney's wondrous ocean pools - working with the talented photographer and eminent physicist Mike Gal.

I am a proud member of the Randwick Community Organic Garden and the Festival Director for the innovative Heaven & Earth Writers Festival – a biennial Sydney Festival devoted to celebrating works and words on the integrated themes of arts, environment and spirit matters. See http://www.heavenearthwriters.net.au/site/

I'll love you and leave you with a beautiful reminder from Yeats;

Beloved, gaze in thine own heart
The holy tree is growing there.