Paula Meehan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paula Meehan
Paula Meehan, 2009

Paula Meehan (born in 1955) is a famous Irish poet and playwright. She is known for her powerful poems and plays that often talk about life in Dublin.

Early Life and Education

Paula Meehan was born in Dublin in 1955. She was the oldest of six children. When she was young, her family moved to London, England. There, she went to St. Elizabeth's Primary School.

Later, Paula and her family returned to Dublin. She finished her primary school years at the Central Model Girls' School. For secondary school, she started at St. Michael's Holy Faith Convent. However, she was expelled for organizing a protest. She then studied on her own to get her Intermediate Certificate. After that, she went to Whitehall House Senior College to finish her Leaving Certificate.

Creative Beginnings

Outside of school, Paula was very creative. She joined a dance drama group. She also got involved in music and band culture around 1970. This is when she started writing song lyrics. Over time, writing songs led her to focus more on writing poetry.

University Studies

From 1972 to 1977, Paula attended Trinity College, Dublin. She studied English, History, and Classical Civilization. It took her five years to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree. During this time, she took a year off to travel around Europe. While at university, she also participated in street theatre and other performances.

After college, she traveled again. She spent time in countries like Greece, Germany, Scotland, and England. Later, she received a special offer to study at Eastern Washington University in the United States. From 1981 to 1983, she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Poetry. Famous writers like Gary Snyder and Carolyn Kizer visited the university. They greatly influenced Paula's writing and ideas.

Paula Meehan returned to Dublin in 1983.

Her Work as a Writer

Paula Meehan has written many poems. Her work has been used in films and by modern dance groups. She has also worked with visual artists. Some of her poems have even been turned into songs by musicians, including the well-known Irish singer Christy Moore. Her poetry has been translated into many languages, with large collections available in French and German.

In 2015, one of her poems was chosen for a special competition called 'A Poem for Ireland'. Her 1991 poem, 'The Statue of the Virgin at Granard Speaks', was among the top ten poems.

Paula Meehan also helps choose new talent. In 2020, she was a judge for the Griffin Poetry Prize. This is a very important award for poets.

Awards and Honors

Paula Meehan has received many important awards for her work.

In September 2013, she was given a very special title. The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, named her the Ireland Professor of Poetry. This is a great honor for an Irish poet.

In 2023, she was recognized by her old university. Trinity College Dublin elected her as an honorary fellow. This means she is a special member of the college.