Frank McGuinness facts for kids

Professor Frank McGuinness (born in 1953) is a famous writer from Ireland. He is best known for writing plays, but he has also written poetry and novels. Some of his most famous plays are The Factory Girls, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, and Someone Who'll Watch Over Me.

McGuinness is also known for his skill in adapting classic stories for modern audiences. He has translated and rewritten plays by famous writers like Ibsen and Sophocles. For many years, he was a Professor of Creative Writing at University College Dublin (UCD).

Life and Career

Frank McGuinness was born in Buncrana, a town in County Donegal, Ireland. He went to school locally and later studied at University College Dublin.

He became well-known with his play The Factory Girls. However, it was his play about World War I, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, that truly established his reputation. It was shown at the famous Abbey Theatre in Dublin and in other countries. The play won many awards, including the London Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright.

McGuinness has also written new versions of classic plays by writers like Henrik Ibsen and Anton Chekhov. He also wrote the script for the movie Dancing at Lughnasa, which was based on a play by another Irish writer, Brian Friel.

Before becoming a full-time writer, McGuinness taught at several universities, including the University of Ulster and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. He later became a professor at University College Dublin, where he taught creative writing.

Famous Plays

McGuinness has written many popular plays. His stories often explore important moments in history and the lives of ordinary people.

The Factory Girls (1982)

This was McGuinness's first major play. It tells the story of a group of women working in a clothing factory in Donegal. When they find out they might lose their jobs, they decide to protest. The play was inspired by the strong women in McGuinness's own family.

Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme (1985)

This play is about a group of Protestant soldiers from Ulster who fight in the First World War. It follows them from their training to the famous Battle of the Somme. The play explores their friendship and their experiences in the war. It is considered one of his most important works.

Someone Who'll Watch Over Me (1992)

This play is about three men—an American, an Irishman, and an Englishman—who are taken hostage in Lebanon. To survive their difficult situation, they must rely on each other. They use their imaginations and humor to cope with being held captive. The play shows how people from different backgrounds can find common ground.

Dolly West's Kitchen (1999)

Set in his hometown of Buncrana during World War II, this play explores life in Ireland during a time known as "The Emergency". The story follows the West family as their lives are changed by the arrival of American soldiers in their town.

Adapting Classic Stories

Besides writing his own plays, Frank McGuinness is an expert at adapting classic works for today's audiences. He takes old plays and stories and gives them a fresh, modern feel. He has worked on plays by Greek writers like Sophocles and Euripides, and European playwrights like Henrik Ibsen and Molière.

Critics have praised his ability to make these classic dramas exciting and powerful for people today. Sometimes he makes small changes to the stories to help the audience better understand the characters and themes. His adaptations have been very successful and have been performed in theaters all over the world.

Other Writings

Poetry and Novels

McGuinness started his writing career as a poet. His poems often explore relationships, memories, and the importance of everyday life. He has published several collections of poetry, including Booterstown and The Stone Jug.

He has also written novels. His first novel, Arimathea, is set in a Donegal village in the 1950s. It tells the story of how the town is affected by the arrival of an Italian painter. His second novel, The Woodcutter and His Family, is about the famous Irish writer James Joyce and his family during their last days in Zurich, Switzerland.

Film and Television

McGuinness has also written for the screen. He wrote the screenplay for the movie version of Dancing at Lughnasa. He has also written several television films for the BBC, including Scout, about a football talent scout in Northern Ireland, and A Song for Jenny, about the aftermath of the 2005 London bombings.

Awards and Honors

Frank McGuinness has received many awards for his work. Here are some of them:

• 1985: London Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright
• 1985: Rooney Prize for Irish Literature
• 1987: Ewart-Biggs Peace Prize
• 1992: Writers' Guild Award for Best Play for Someone Who'll Watch Over Me
• 1996: Tony Award for Best Revival for his adaptation of A Doll's House
• 2014: Irish PEN Award for his contribution to Irish literature
• 2019: UCD Ulysses Medal

Selected Works

Plays

• The Factory Girls (1982)
• Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme (1985)
• Carthaginians (1988)
• Someone Who'll Watch Over Me (1992)
• The Bird Sanctuary (1993)
• Dolly West's Kitchen (1999)
• Gates of Gold (2002)
• There Came a Gypsy Riding (2007)
• The Hanging Gardens (2013)

Adaptations

• Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen (1987)
• Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen (1988)
• A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen (1996)
• Electra by Sophocles (1997)
• Hecuba by Euripides (2004)
• Oedipus by Sophocles (2008)

Poetry

• Booterstown (1994)
• The Stone Jug (2003)
• Dulse (2007)

Fiction

• Arimathea (2013)
• The Woodcutter & his Family (2017)