Paul Durcan

This article is about the poet. For the Donegal goalkeeper, see Paul Durcan (Gaelic footballer).
Paul Durcan
Native name Pól Mac Duarcáin
Born (1944-10-16) 16 October 1944
Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Occupation Poet
Spouse(s) Nessa O'Neill (m. 1967–84)
Children 2

Paul Durcan (born 16 October 1944) is a contemporary Irish poet.

Early life

Durcan was born and grew up in Dublin and in Turlough, County Mayo. His father, John, was a barrister and circuit court judge; father and son had a difficult and formal relationship. Durcan enjoyed a warmer and more natural relationship with his mother, Sheila MacBride Durcan, through whom he is a great-nephew of both Maud Gonne, muse of WB Yeats and Irish social and political activist, and John MacBride, one of the leaders of the Easter Rising, which began the Irish War of Independence leading to the foundation of the Irish state.

He studied Archaeology and Medieval History at University College Cork.While at college, Durcan was kidnapped by his family and committed against his will to Saint John of God psychiatric hospital in Dublin, and later to a Harley Street clinic where he was subjected to electric shock treatment and heavy dosages of barbiturates and Mandrax.

Durcan moved to live in London in 1966 where he worked at the North Thames Gas Board. He met Nessa O'Neill in 1967; they married and had two daughters, Sarah and Siabhra. They lived in South Kensington, then moved to Cork where his wife taught in a prison. The marriage ended at the beginning of 1984.[1][2][3][4]

Career

Durcan's main published collections include: A Snail in my Prime, Crazy About Women, Greetings to Our Friends in Brazil and Cries of an Irish Caveman. He appeared on the 1990 Van Morrison album Enlightenment, giving an idiosyncratic vocal performance on the song, "In The Days Before Rock'n'Roll", which he also co-wrote.

In 2003, he published a collection of his weekly addresses to the nation, Paul Durcan's Diary, on RTÉ Radio 1 programme Today with Pat Kenny. He was shortlisted in 2005 for the Poetry Now Award for his collection, The Art of Life. In 2009, he was conferred with an honorary degree by Trinity College, Dublin.[5] In 2011 Durcan was conferred with an honorary doctorate from University College Dublin.[6]

Between 2004-2007 Durcan was the third Ireland Professor of Poetry.[7]

Durcan is a member of Aosdána.

Awards

Paul Durcan 's Diary

This collection gives a new view of Duncan's work and a more intimate view of him and his poetry. It gives an insight into his childhood and allows readers to reflect themselves.[8]

Poetry books

References

  1. ↑ Paul Durcan, Ricorso. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
  2. ↑ A sharp and subtle voice, The Guardian, 2008-01-26. Retrieved 2010-06-22
  3. ↑ Kidnapped by his family and put in a mental home, Sunday Independent, 2007-05-06. Retrieved 2010-06-22
  4. ↑ Laughter lines that come with a dark side, Sunday Independent, 2009-10-18. Retrieved 2010-06-22
  5. ↑ Durcan among four awarded degree, Paul Cullen, The Irish Times, December 11, 2009
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ Ireland Professor of Poetry, Previous Professors
  8. ↑ Goarzin, Anne (2010). "PAUL DURCAN's UNSETTLED POETRY". DQR Studies in Literature: 161.

The Kilfenora Teaboy, (ed. Colm Tóibín, New Island Books, 1997;) ISBN 1-874597-31-6

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.