Caimh McDonnell (, ) is an Irish writer. Born in Limerick, raised in Dublin, and later based in Manchester, McDonnell is a former stand-up comedian and TV writer. McDonnell writes comic crime thrillers and humorous paranormal fantasy.
McDonnell was born in Limerick and grew up in Dublin. He attended Dublin City University graduating with a degree in Electronic Engineering, and started his career assembling computer servers.
After a career of many years in stand-up comedy, McDonnell became a full-time writer. He has written twenty novels while his TV writing credits include Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week, A League of Their Own, The Sarah Millican Television Programme and the BAFTA nominated-children's CBBC animated series Pet Squad which he created.
His Stranger Times series, which melds urban fantasy, paranormal and humour with crime, is written under the pen name of C.K McDonnell.
His novel I Have Sinned was shortlisted for the Kindle Storyteller Award in 2019.
The Stranger Times series was nominated and shortlisted for The New Kid on the Block Award (Best New Crime Series) Dead Good Reader Award 2022. The series was the winner of Best Audio Work at the British Fantasy Awards 2023.
Both The Dublin Trilogy and The Stranger Times series have been optioned for television.
McDonnell lives in Manchester and is married to Elaine Ofori, who runs McFori Ink, a publishing company. He has worked for London Irish rugby club, making stadium announcements.