Anthony Cronin facts for kids

Anthony Gerard Richard Cronin (born December 28, 1923 – died December 27, 2016) was an important Irish poet, writer, and champion of the arts. He was also a biographer, critic, and editor.

Anthony Cronin's Early Life and Education

Anthony Cronin was born in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland, on December 28, 1923. He studied at the National University of Ireland, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. After that, he went on to study law at the King's Inns, which is a place where people train to become barristers (a type of lawyer). He later became a barrister.

Cronin was married twice and had two daughters, Iseult and Sarah. He passed away on December 27, 2016, just one day before his 93rd birthday.

Anthony Cronin: Champion of the Arts

Anthony Cronin was well-known for his work as an arts activist, meaning he actively supported and promoted the arts. He even served as a Cultural Adviser to two Irish leaders, called Taoiseachs: Charles Haughey and Garret FitzGerald.

Key Arts Initiatives and Roles

Cronin helped start and support several important arts groups in Ireland:

• Aosdána: This is a special group that honors Irish artists who have done amazing work. Cronin was a founding member and served on its main committee for many years. In 2003, he was given the title of Saoi, which is the highest honor in Aosdána, recognizing his exceptional artistic achievements.
• Irish Museum of Modern Art: He was a member of the governing body for this museum, which showcases modern art.
• Heritage Council: This group works to protect Ireland's natural and cultural heritage. Cronin was also involved with them.
• National Gallery of Ireland: He was part of the governing body for this famous art gallery and even acted as its Chairman for a while.

Celebrating Literature and Teaching

In 1954, Cronin joined other famous Irish writers like Flann O'Brien and Patrick Kavanagh to celebrate the very first Bloomsday. This day celebrates the novel Ulysses by James Joyce.

Cronin also shared his knowledge by teaching. From 1966 to 1968, he was a visiting lecturer at the University of Montana in the United States. Then, from 1968 to 1970, he was a poet in residence at Drake University. He received honorary doctorates from several universities, including Dublin University.

Anthony Cronin's Writing Career

Cronin started his writing journey by contributing to a magazine called Envoy, A Review of Literature and Art. He later became the editor of The Bell in the 1950s and worked as a literary editor for Time and Tide in London.

From 1974 to 1980, he wrote a weekly column called "Viewpoint" for The Irish Times newspaper. Later, he also wrote about poetry for the Sunday Independent.

Poetry and Novels

His first collection of poems, simply titled Poems, was published in 1958. He released several more collections over the years. His Collected Poems was published in 2004, bringing many of his works together. His final book, The End of the Modern World, was published in 2016.

Cronin also wrote a novel called The Life of Riley. This book humorously describes the lives of artists and writers in Ireland during the mid-20th century. He also wrote a memoir, Dead as Doornails, which explored similar themes.

Biographies of Famous Writers

Anthony Cronin was friends with the famous writer Samuel Beckett. Cronin wrote a biography about him called Samuel Beckett: The Last Modernist (1996). He also wrote a biography of another well-known Irish writer, Flann O'Brien, titled No Laughing Matter: The Life and Times of Flann O'Brien (1989).