Clare Boylan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clare Boylan
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| Born | 21 April 1948 Dublin |
| Died | 16 May 2006 Dublin |
| Occupation | Author, journalist |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Notable awards | Spirit of Life Award Benson & Hedges Journalist of the Year 1974 |
| Spouse | Alan Wilkes |
Clare Boylan (born 21 April 1948 – died 16 May 2006) was a talented Irish writer and journalist. She wrote for many newspapers and magazines. Her work also appeared on international TV and radio.
Contents
About Clare Boylan
Clare Boylan was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1948. Her parents were Patrick and Evelyn Boylan. She grew up to become a well-known author and journalist.
Early Career in Journalism
Clare started her career as a journalist. She worked at Irish Press, a newspaper that is no longer published. Later, she worked for the Evening Press in Dublin.
In 1974, Clare won a special award. She was named Journalist of the Year. This was a big achievement for her. While working there, she met her husband, Alan Wilkes, who was also a journalist.
Becoming a Magazine Editor
From 1981, Clare became the editor of Image magazine. This was a popular magazine at the time. She worked there for a few years.
In 1984, Clare decided to focus more on writing books. She mostly stopped her journalism work to become a full-time author.
Clare Boylan's Books
Clare Boylan wrote many different kinds of books. She wrote novels, short stories, and non-fiction. Her stories often explored themes that were important to women.
Novels by Clare Boylan
Her novels include:
- Holy Pictures (1983)
- Last Resorts (1984)
- Black Baby (1988)
- Home Rule (1992)
- Room for a Single Lady (1997)
- Beloved Stranger (1999)
- Emma Brown (2003)
Room for a Single Lady won the Spirit of Life Award. It was also considered for a film adaptation. Emma Brown is special because it finishes a story. The famous writer Charlotte Brontë had started it but only wrote 20 pages before she died.
Short Stories and Other Works
Clare's short stories are collected in books like:
- A Nail on the Head (1983)
- Concerning Virgins (1990)
- That Bad Woman (1995)
One of her short stories, "Some Ladies on a Tour," was turned into a film. The film was called Making Waves. It was even nominated for an Oscar in 1988!
She also wrote non-fiction books. These include The Agony and the Ego (1994) and The Literary Companion to Cats (1994). Clare also wrote introductions for books by other Irish writers. These included Kate O'Brien and Molly Keane. She even adapted Molly Keane's novel Good Behaviour for BBC Radio 4 in 2004.
Clare Boylan's books were popular around the world. They were translated into many languages. People in places like Russia and Hong Kong could read her stories.
What Inspired Her Writing
Many of Clare's writings were inspired by ideas about women's rights. She believed that her experiences as a woman shaped her stories. She once said that she was a "woman writer" because she wrote about things that interested women the most.
Her important work earned her a place in Aosdána. This is a special group of Irish artists.
Later Life
In her later years, Clare lived in County Wicklow with her husband, Alan Wilkes. She passed away in 2006 at the age of 58, after an illness.
