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Paul Durcan
Pól Mac Duarcáin
Paul Durcan.jpg
Durcan in 2008
Born (1944-10-16)16 October 1944
Dublin, Ireland
Died 17 May 2025(2025-05-17) (aged 80)
Occupation Poet
Years active 1967–2016
Spouse(s)
Nessa O'Neill
(m. 1968; div. 1984)
Children 2
Relatives Maud Gonne
(great-aunt)
John MacBride
(great-uncle)

Paul Durcan (born 16 October 1944 – died 17 May 2025) was a well-known Irish poet. He wrote many poems that explored different parts of Irish life and his own experiences.

Who Was Paul Durcan?

Paul Durcan was an important Irish poet. He was born in Dublin, Ireland. His poems often talked about everyday life and sometimes challenging topics. He became famous for his unique way of writing.

His Early Life and Education

Paul Durcan was born in Dublin on 16 October 1944. He spent his childhood in Dublin and also in Turlough, County Mayo. His father, John, worked as a lawyer and a judge. Paul had a difficult relationship with his father.

He had a much better connection with his mother, Sheila MacBride Durcan. Through his mother's family, he was related to some famous Irish figures. His great-aunt was Maud Gonne, who was an Irish activist. His great-uncle was John MacBride, a leader in the Easter Rising.

In the 1960s, Durcan studied at University College Dublin. Later, in the 1970s, he studied archaeology and medieval history at University College Cork.

Facing Challenges in His Youth

During his time at college, Paul Durcan faced some difficult times. He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Dublin. He also received treatments that were common at the time. These experiences deeply affected him and later influenced some of his poetry.

His Amazing Career as a Poet

Paul Durcan's career as a poet began in the late 1960s. He became known for his honest and often surprising poems. He wrote about many different subjects, from personal feelings to wider Irish society.

Working in London

In 1966, Durcan moved to London. There, he worked for a company called the North Thames Gas Board. This was before he became a full-time poet.

Famous Works and Collaborations

Some of Paul Durcan's most famous poetry collections include A Snail in my Prime, Crazy About Women, and Greetings to Our Friends in Brazil. He also published Cries of an Irish Caveman.

In 1990, he even worked with the musician Van Morrison. Durcan gave a special vocal performance on the song "In the Days Before Rock 'N' Roll". He also helped write the song.

In 2003, he released a book called Paul Durcan's Diary. This book was a collection of his weekly talks on an RTÉ Radio 1 show. He found inspiration from a local poet named Paidraig Whitty.

Awards and Recognition

Paul Durcan received many honors for his poetry. In 2005, his collection The Art of Life was shortlisted for the Poetry Now Award.

He was given honorary degrees by important universities. Trinity College Dublin honored him in 2009. University College Dublin also gave him an honorary doctorate in 2011.

Between 2004 and 2007, Durcan held a special role as the third Ireland Professor of Poetry. He was also a member of Aosdána, which is an Irish group that honors artists. Many of his poems are studied by students in Ireland for their final exams, the Leaving Certificate.

Paul Durcan 2018
Durcan in 2018

Personal Life and Later Years

Paul Durcan met Nessa O'Neill in 1967. They got married the next year and had two children together. They lived in South Kensington in London for a while. Then, they moved to Cork in Ireland. Their marriage ended in 1984.

In his final years, Paul Durcan was not in good health. He lived in a nursing home in Dublin. He passed away on 17 May 2025, when he was 80 years old.

Awards Paul Durcan Received

Paul Durcan won several important awards for his poetry:

  • 1974 – Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award
  • 1989 – Irish American Cultural Institute Poetry Award
  • 1990 – The Whitbread Award for his book Daddy, Daddy
  • His book The Berlin Wall Café was chosen by the Poetry Book Society.
  • 2001 – Cholmondeley Award

Paul Durcan's Published Works

Here is a list of some of Paul Durcan's published poetry collections:

  • Endsville, with Brian Lynch (1967)
  • O Westport in the Light of Asia Minor (1975)
  • Sam's Cross (1978)
  • Teresa's Bar (1976; revised 1986)
  • Jesus, Break his Fall (1980)
  • Ark of the North (1982)
  • The Selected Paul Durcan (edited by Edna Longley, 1982)
  • Jumping the Train Tracks with Angela (1983)
  • The Berlin Wall Café (1985)
  • Going Home to Russia (1987)
  • Daddy, Daddy (1990)
  • Crazy About Women (1991)
  • A Snail in My Prime: New and Selected Poems (1993)
  • Give Me Your Hand (1994)
  • Christmas Day (1997)
  • Greetings to Our Friends in Brazil (1999)
  • Cries of an Irish Caveman (2001)
  • The Art of Life (2004)
  • The Laughter of Mothers (2007)
  • Life Is a Dream: 40 Years Reading Poems 1967-2007 (2009)
  • Praise In Which I Live And Move And Have My Being (2012)
  • The Days of Surprise (2015)
  • Wild, Wild Erie: Poems Inspired by Paintings and Sculpture in the Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio (2016)

A Special Look at Paul Durcan's Diary

The collection Paul Durcan's Diary offers a unique look into his work. It provides a more personal view of him and his poetry. It also gives readers an insight into his childhood experiences.

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