Posted 14 February 2014
McGuinness honoured with 2014 Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Achievement in Irish Literature
Frank McGuinness, Professor of Creative Writing at the UCD School of English, Drama and Film, University College Dublin, is to receive the 2014 Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Achievement in Irish Literature.
The Award honours Irish born writers who have made an outstanding contribution to Irish Literature. It is for a significant body of work written and produced over a number of years. Irish PEN (Association for Irish Writers) set up the award in 1998. The first Award was presented to John B. Keane in 1999.
A world-renowned playwright, Frank McGuinness’ first great stage hit was the highly acclaimed ‘Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme’. He is also a highly skilled adapter of plays by writers such as Ibsen, Sophocles, Brecht, and writer of several film scripts, including Dancing at Lughnasa.
McGuinness' body of work includes twenty-two original plays, eighteen adaptations and five volumes of poetry. McGuinness’ most recent novel ARIMATHEA (The O’Brien Press) was shortlisted for the Bord Gais Energy Book Awards Novel of the Year 2013.
Previous recipients of the Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Achievement in Irish Literature include: Brian Friel, Edna O’Brien, William Trevor, John McGahern, Neil Jordan, Seamus Heaney, Jennifer Johnston, Maeve Binchy, Thomas Kilroy, Roddy Doyle, Joseph O’Connor and John Banville.
In keeping with a tradition started in 1935, (when the WB Yeats Dinner took place), the annual Irish PEN Award is presented in the company of other leading writers. Members of Irish PEN, as well as previous winners, nominate and vote for the candidate.
UCD Professor, Frank McGuinness will be officially presented with the award at the 2014 Award Dinner on 21st February 2014.
(Produced by UCD University Relations)
