[1] Dervla McTiernan was born in County Cork, growing up initially in Carrigaline and Douglas before her father's work in the bank took her to Dublin, aged six, and then Limerick.
[2][3] McTiernan studied corporate law in University College Galway and went on to become a solicitor, training in Dublin.
She returned to County Galway, to Oranmore, to build her legal practice, working in it for about twelve years.
Ireland hit a recession and the couple decided to move to Australia.
[5][2][4][6] As of 2019, her first novel was being adapted for film by Irish actor Colin Farrell and his production company.