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Walter Macken facts for kids

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Walter Macken (born May 3, 1915 – died April 22, 1967) was a famous Irish writer from Galway, Ireland. He wrote many exciting stories, novels, and plays. His full name in Irish was Uaitéar Ó Maicín.

About Walter Macken

Walter Macken started his career as an actor. He performed a lot at the Taibhdhearc theatre in Galway, where he met his wife, Peggy. He also acted at the famous Abbey Theatre in Dublin. He even played lead roles on Broadway in New York City! He starred in plays like The King of Friday's Men by M. J. Molloy and his own play, Home Is the Hero.

Walter Macken also acted in movies. One of his notable roles was in the film The Quare Fellow, which was based on a book by Brendan Behan.

After his third book, Rain on the Wind, became very successful and won an award in the USA, Walter decided to focus mostly on writing. He is especially known for his three historical novels about Ireland: Seek the Fair Land, The Silent People, and The Scorching Wind. These books tell stories from Ireland's past.

In September 1966, Walter Macken moved to a small village called Menlo in County Galway. He sadly passed away suddenly at home on April 22, 1967. He was survived by his wife and two sons. His son, Ultan Macken, is a well-known journalist in Ireland and wrote a book about his father called Walter Macken: Dreams on Paper.

Movies Walter Macken Acted In

Walter Macken appeared in these films:

  • 1971: Flight of the Doves
  • 1962: The Quare Fellow
  • 1959: Home Is the Hero

Walter Macken's Books and Plays

Walter Macken wrote many different kinds of stories. Here are some of his works:

Plays He Wrote

  • Mungo's Mansion (1946)
  • Vacant Possession (1948)
  • Home is the Hero (1952)
  • Twilight is the Warrior (1956)

Novels He Wrote

  • Quench the Moon (1948)
  • I Am Alone (1949)
  • Rain on the Wind (1950)
  • The Bogman (1952)
  • Sunset on the Window Panes (1954)
  • Sullivan (1957)
  • Seek the Fair Land (1959)
  • The Silent People (1962)
  • The Scorching Wind (1964)
  • Brown Lord of the Mountain (1966)

He also wrote two other novels, 'And then No More' (1946) and 'Cockles and Mustard' (1947), which were never published.

Books for Young Readers

Walter Macken also wrote several collections of short stories especially for children. He also wrote two novels for young people:

  • Island of the Great Yellow Ox (1966)
  • Flight of the Doves (1963), which was later made into a movie.

Short Story Collections

Walter Macken published several collections of short stories for adults too. Here are some of them:

  • The Green Hills (1956)
# Gaeglers and the Wild Geese
  1. The Currach Race
  2. The Gauger
  3. The Young Turk
  4. The Proud Man
  5. The Green Hills
  6. Barney's Maggie
  7. The Sailor
  8. The Hurling Match
  9. Duck Soup
  10. The Fair Lady
  11. The Lady and the Tom
  12. The Atheist
  13. The Wasteland
  14. Tuesday's Children
  15. Hallmarked
  16. The Eyes of the Cat
  17. Foreign Fish
  18. The Boy and the Brace
  19. The River
  20. The King
  • God Made Sunday and other Stories (1962)
# God Made Sunday
  1. Patter O'Rourke
  2. The Big Fish
  3. Solo and the Nine Irons
  4. The Match Maiden
  5. The Conjugator
  6. Solo and the Simpleton
  7. Light in the Valley
  8. This Was My Day
  9. Solo and the Sinner
  10. No Medal for Matt
  11. The Red Rager
  12. The Lion
  • The Coll Doll and other Stories (1969)
# The Coll Doll
  1. The Currach Race*
  2. Duck Soup*
  3. The Kiss
  4. Characters in Order of Appearance
  5. Gaeglers and the Wild Geese*
  6. The Wasteland*
  7. The Fair Lady*
  8. The Eyes of the Cat*
  9. A Talk in the Dark
  10. My Neighbour
  11. Foreign Fish*
  12. The Hurling Match*
  13. The Green Hills*
  14. Tuesday's Children*
  15. The Lady and the Tom*
  16. Janey is a Girl
  17. Barney's Maggie*
  18. The Dreamer
  19. The River*
  20. Three Witnesses

* Some of these stories were published before in The Green Hills (1956)

  • City of the Tribes (1997)
# Ambition
  1. Battle
  2. The Passing of the Black Swan
  3. New Clothes for the Giolla
  4. Dad
  5. Deputy Johnny
  6. Tail of a Kid
  7. Saga
  8. Dovetail and the Turkey
  9. Homecoming
  10. Homing Salmon
  11. Spanish Joe
  12. Colm comes to the Citie
  13. The Citie
  14. An Act of Charity
  15. Pugnug
  16. The New Broom
  17. Gaeglers and the Greyhound
  • The Grass of the People (1998)
# The Grass of the People
  1. What will we do with the Yanks
  2. Solo and the Sailor
  3. This Was My Day**
  4. The Storm is Still
  5. How to Poach a Salmon
  6. Sukos
  7. The Mare with Foal at Foot
  8. The Green Dream
  9. Challenge the River
  10. The Tangler
  11. The Bachelor
  12. The Coll Doll*
  13. The Kiss*
  14. Characters in Order of Appearance*
  15. A Talk in the Dark*
  16. My Neighbour*
  17. Jane is a Girl*
  18. The Dreamer*
  19. Three Witnesses*

* Some stories were published before in The Coll Doll and other Stories (1969)
** This story was published before in God Made Sunday and other Stories (1962)

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