Eugene McCabe facts for kids

Eugene McCabe (born July 7, 1930 – died August 27, 2020) was a famous Irish writer. He was born in Scotland but moved to Ireland when he was young. Eugene McCabe wrote many different kinds of stories, including novels, short stories, and plays for both the stage and television. Another well-known Irish writer, John Banville, once said that McCabe was one of the best Irish novelists of his time.

Biography

Eugene McCabe was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents were Irish people who had moved there. In the early 1940s, when Eugene was a boy, his family moved back to Ireland. They settled on a farm near a place called Lackey Bridge, close to Clones in County Monaghan. He went to school at Castleknock College.

His Plays and TV Shows

Eugene McCabe's play King of the Castle was first performed in 1964. It caused some discussion at the time, and a group called the League of Decency protested against it. This was because some people found its themes a bit shocking for the time.

Later, he wrote a group of three television plays. These were called Cancer, Heritage, and Siege. He wrote them because he felt it was important to talk about a difficult time in Irish history known as the Troubles. This was a period of conflict in Northern Ireland. His plays helped people understand the challenges faced during that time.

Famous Novels and Stories

In 1992, Eugene McCabe wrote a novel called Death and Nightingales. This book became very popular. Another famous Irish writer, Colm Tóibín, called it "one of the great Irish masterpieces of the century." A review from Kirkus Reviews also said it was a "classic of our times."

Eugene McCabe lived in Monaghan, which is very close to the border with Fermanagh. This location greatly influenced his writing. The writer Fintan O'Toole noted that McCabe's stories often explored the complex feelings and situations of people living near the border.

Eugene McCabe passed away on August 27, 2020, when he was 90 years old. He is remembered by his wife, Margot, his four children, Ruth, Marcus, Patrick, and Stephen, and his thirteen grandchildren.

List of Works

Eugene McCabe wrote many different types of stories and plays. Here is a list of some of his works:

Plays for the Stage

• A Matter of Conscience (1962)
• King of the Castle (1964)
• Pull Down a Horseman (1966)
• Breakdown (1966)
• Swift (1969)
• Gale Day (1979)
• Victims (1981)

Television Plays

• Cancer (1973)
• Heritage (1973)
• Siege (1973)
• Roma (1979)

Novels

• Death and Nightingales (1992)

Novellas

• The love of sisters (2009)

Short Story Collections

• Victims: A Tale from Fermanagh (1976)
• Heritage and Other Stories (1978)
• Christ in the Fields, A Fermanagh Trilogy (1993)
• Tales from the Poor House (1999)
• Heaven Lies about Us (2005)

Children's Books

• Cyril: The Quest of an Orphaned Squirrel (1987)
• Cyril's Woodland Quest (2001)

Non-fiction Books

• Shadows from the Pale: Portrait of an Irish Town (1996)

See also

In Spanish: Eugene McCabe para niños