Eilís Dillon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eilís Dillon
|
|
|---|---|
Plaque in Saint Patrick's Park, Dublin
|
|
| Born | 7 March 1920 Galway, Ireland |
| Died | 19 July 1994 (aged 74) Dublin, Ireland |
| Resting place | Clara, County Offaly |
| Occupation | writer |
| Language | Irish, English |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Genre | Children's books Teenage novels |
| Notable awards | Bisto Book of the Year Award (1991) |
| Spouse | Cormac Ó Cuilleanáin Vivian Mercier |
| Children | Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin Cormac Ó Cuilleanáin Máire |
| Relatives | Joseph Mary Plunkett (uncle) |
Eilís Dillon (born 7 March 1920 – died 19 July 1994) was a famous Irish writer. She wrote about 50 books during her life. Her stories were so popular that they were translated into 14 different languages around the world.
Contents
Growing Up in Ireland
Eilís Dillon was born in Galway, Ireland, in 1920. She was the third of five children. Her family had a special connection to Irish history. Her uncle, Joseph Plunkett, was a very important person in Ireland's fight for independence. He signed a famous document called the 1916 Proclamation.
Eilís grew up in a place called Dangan House, near Galway City. Later, her family moved to a small fishing village called Barna. At her local school, she became very good at speaking the Irish language. She also learned a lot about the old traditions and culture of the Connemara region.
After school, Eilís studied with the Ursuline nuns in Sligo. In 1940, she married Cormac Ó Cuilleanáin, who was a professor at University College Cork. They had three children together:
- Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, who became a well-known Irish poet and professor.
- Máire Ní Chuilleanáin, who was a talented violinist.
- Cormac Ó Cuilleanáin, who also became a professor and writes novels.
Starting Her Writing Journey
Eilís Dillon began her writing career by creating books in the Irish language. Some of her early Irish books include An Choill Bheo (published in 1948) and Oscar agus an Cóiste sé nEasóg (published in 1952).
However, after her book The Lost Island came out in 1952, she started writing mostly in English. Many of her books were written especially for teenagers. These stories often explored themes like finding yourself and solving problems.
In 1964, Eilís moved to Rome, Italy, because of her husband's health. While living there, she helped with a group that worked on English translations for church services. She returned to Cork, Ireland, with her husband in 1969.
Even after moving back to Ireland, Eilís continued to visit Italy. She even set some of her stories in Italy, like Living in Imperial Rome (1974) and The Five Hundred (1972). In 1974, she married her second husband, Vivian Mercier, who was a professor and critic from America. After that, she divided her time between California, Italy, and Dublin.
Later Books and Contributions
Eilís Dillon also wrote books for adult readers. Her first detective novel, Death at Crane's Court, was published in 1953. She wrote other mystery novels too, like Sent to His Account (1954) and Death in the Quadrangle (1956). These books were known for showing what life was like in Ireland at the time.
Over the years, Eilís published many more novels. Some of these include The Bitter Glass (1959), Across the Bitter Sea (1973), and The Wild Geese (1981).
Final Years and Legacy
In her later years, Eilís Dillon played a very important role in Irish culture and literature. She was a member of the Royal Society for Literature and Aosdána, which are special groups for writers and artists. She also helped lead the Irish Writers’ Union and founded the Irish Children's Book Trust. This trust helps support and promote books for young readers in Ireland.
In 1987, Eilís and her husband moved permanently to Dublin. There, she continued to support new and upcoming Irish writers. Her last story, Children of Bach, was published in 1993.
Eilís Dillon passed away in Dublin in 1994. She is buried in Clara, County Offaly. Today, a special award is given each year in her memory as part of the CBI Book of the Year Awards. This award celebrates excellent books for children and teenagers, continuing Eilís Dillon's legacy of inspiring young readers.]
