Occupation Biographer, Poet Period 2004–present | Nationality Irish Notable works See 'Published works' | |
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Genre Irish History, Poetry, Drama, Biography, Diary, literary criticism Education Loyola University New Orleans Books Irish Tales and Sagas, Biographies and the Art of Biogra, Oliver St John Gogarty, Michael Collins and the Troub, The Kiss: New and Selected Similar Mrs Patrick Campbell, Pauline Bewick, Charles Baudelaire | ||
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Ulick O'Connor (born 1928) is an Irish writer, historian and critic.
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Early life
Born in Rathgar, County Dublin in 1928 to Matthew O'Connor, the Dean of the Royal College of Surgeons. O'Connor attended St. Mary's College, Rathmines and later University College Dublin, where he studied law and philosophy, becoming known as a keen sporting participant, especially in boxing, rugby and cricket, as well as a distinguished debater – during his time there he was an active member of the Literary and Historical Society. He subsequently studied at Loyola University, New Orleans. He was called to the bar in 1951.
Career and writings
After practising at the Irish Bar in Dublin, O'Connor spent time as a critic before turning to writing. His work has spanned areas such as biography, poetry, Irish history, drama, diary, and literary criticism. He was sports correspondent for The Observer, 1955 to 1961.
He is a well-known intellectual figure in contemporary Irish affairs and has expressed strong opinions against censorship and the war on drugs. He contributes a regular poetry column to Irish daily the Evening Herald, has also written a column for the Sunday Mirror and a sporting column for the Sunday Times, as well as broadcasting on RTÉ.
His best known writing is his biographies of Oliver St. John Gogarty, Brendan Behan, his studies of the early 20th-century Irish troubles and the Irish Literary Revival.
He is also known for the autobiographical "The Ulick O’Connor Diaries 1970-1981: A Cavalier Irishman (2001)", which details his encounters with well-known Irish and international figures, ranging from political (Jack Lynch and Paddy Devlin) to the artistic (Christy Brown and Peter Sellers). It also documents the progress of the Peace Process during the same time, and the progress of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Although he has travelled extensively, O'Connor still lives in his parental home in Dublin's Rathgar. He is a member of Aosdána.
O'Connor's great-grandfather was Matt Harris, Land Leaguer, Fenian, and Irish Parliamentary Party Member of Parliament. He is related to US Actor Carroll O'Connor.