John Hughes was born in Belfast in 1962. He was educated at St Patrick's High School, Downpatrick, and studied English and Scholastic Philosophy at Queen's University, Belfast. After working for a film workshop in Belfast, he lived in New York for three years. He now lives and works in Belfast. His poems have been published in many magazines and anthologies, including Poets from the North of Ireland and The New Younger Irish Poets from Blackstaff Press.