Daniel Mornin facts for kids

Daniel Mornin (1956–2014) was an Irish writer who created plays, screenplays for movies, and novels. He often wrote about life in Ulster, which is a part of Northern Ireland.

About Daniel Mornin

Daniel Mornin was a talented writer whose stories often explored important and sometimes difficult topics. He became well-known for his plays and books, which were enjoyed by many people.

His Early Life

Daniel Mornin was born and grew up in Belfast, a city in Northern Ireland. His father worked as a machinist, and his mother was a cleaner. Daniel left school when he was 15 years old. He took on various jobs before he joined the Royal Navy.

After leaving the navy in 1977, he traveled a lot. He visited many countries, including France, Austria, Turkey, Nepal, and places in North Africa. In 1969, he moved to London. He later studied English and economics. Instead of becoming a teacher, he decided to join a theatre workshop, which helped him start his writing career.

His Creative Work

Daniel Mornin was very busy creating stories for the stage and screen. He wrote many plays, novels, and screenplays.

Plays and Theatre

Daniel Mornin's first play was called Mum and Son. It was first performed in London in 1981 and later in Belfast in 1984. This play began a period where he wrote many original dramas in the 1980s. Some of his other plays included Resting Time, Kate, and Short of Mutiny. He also wrote a radio play called Scuttling Off for BBC Radio 3.

In 1984, his play Comrade Ogilvy was performed by the famous Royal Shakespeare Company in London.

One of his important plays was The Murderers (1985). This play was set in East Belfast in the early 1970s. It was performed at the National Theatre and was praised by critics. Daniel Mornin won the George Devine award for being a very promising new playwright.

He then wrote Built on Sand in 1987, which was shown at the Royal Court. Another play, Weights and Measures, was a dark comedy that explored difficult themes. It was well-received by a special audience at the National Theatre studios in 1987, but it was considered too intense for a full public production.

Novels and Films

In 1991, Daniel Mornin published his novel called All Our Fault. This book told a powerful and sad story set during the Troubles in 1969. The Troubles was a period of conflict in Northern Ireland.

In the same year, a TV show called In the Border Country was shown on Channel 4. Daniel Mornin wrote the screenplay for this show, which starred actors like Sean Bean and Brendan Gleeson. He received a Banff Award for his work on it.

His second play for the National Theatre, At Our Table (1991), was a strong play that looked at how ordinary people can do bad things. It featured special music by his friend Stephen Warbeck.

His novel All Our Fault was later made into a film called Nothing Personal in 1995. Daniel Mornin wrote the screenplay for this movie. It starred actors such as Ian Hart and Michael Gambon. Ian Hart even won an award for best supporting actor at the 52nd Venice International Film Festival for his role in the film.

Besides his writing, Daniel Mornin also worked as an IT consultant to help support his family.

His Family Life

Daniel Mornin was married to Aine. They met on the opening night of his very first play, Mum and Son. Daniel and Aine had two children together.