Kitty Corrigan

Kitty Corrigan is a freelance writer and editor, working for national magazines and, since moving to Hay-on-Wye in Wales in 2012, Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts. Previously she lived in London for 30 years and was Deputy Editor of Country Living Magazine for 16 years. Recent writing commissions include Country Homes & Interiors, Saga Magaine, NFU Countryside, Period Living, Food and Travel, and the Guardian (travel section). She has collaborated with photographer Andrew Montgomery and cook Cherie Denham on two books about Irish food and culture, entitled The Irish Bakery and The Irish Kitchen (montgomerypress.co.uk).

Hay is the UK's biggest literary festival, and also has global editions. Working with the Communications Director, Kitty edits all newsletters and press releases, writes programme copy and co-edits the print version for the main Festival in May. She also chairs events on stage about the environment, farming, biodiversity, artisan crafts and travel. 

Kitty studied English and Related Literature at University of York from 1972-75, was a member of Derwent, and was involved in York Student Television. After graduating, she travelled for 18 months before arriving in London with a journalism career in mind. Her first role was with D C Thomson in Fleet Street, where the interview included an intelligence test – and cut her teeth on The Sunday Post and The Weekly News. After two years she realised that she only wanted to work on magazines and became a sub-editor on OVER21 Magazine, then Chief Sub-Editor. She moved to Cosmopolitan as Chief Sub-Editor where she had the chance to write features on environmental issues. 

She then took the plunge to go freelance and worked for monthly and weekly magazines and supplements, ranging from ELLE and Marie Claire to Hello!, Observer and Sunday Express. Freelancing gave her the opportunity to travel round Africa for a year (1990-1991), and to spend six months in Russia as sub-editor of The Moscow Times (1995).

She says she still feels attached to the University and is grateful for the opportunities it provided. With her involvement in the arts at a time when they are threatened by government cuts and other sources of funding, she would like to add her voice to those campaigning for more support in this area, as the arts are so vital to our cultural and mental wellbeing.