John McGahern Irish Writing Commemorative Evening

The third John McGahern Irish Writing Commemorative Evening was held in St Patrick’s College on 7th May to celebrate the work of former student, the late John McGahern, and to celebrate the best of Irish contemporary writing.  Many current and former students, staff members and visitors attended.  Among those present were members of John McGahern’s family, including his sister, Monica Gilligan, herself a graduate of the College.  Dr Eamon Maher, who teaches in Tallaght IT, and is author of John McGahern: From the Local to the Universal, gave an illuminating paper entitled “No Surrender!: War and the Death of Innocence in the work of John McGahern” focusing on the traumatic effect of the Irish War of Independence on the father figure in McGahern’s writing.

Award winning short-story writer, Claire Keegan, author of Antarctica and Walk the Blue Fields, read from her own work in a spellbinding delivery.  Claire talked knowledgeably about the art of writing and the influence of John McGahern on her own work.  She generously answered many questions from the audience, enlightening her listeners about her own work and that of McGahern.  The event, which was chaired by Dr Derek Hand and hosted by the English Department, was followed by a reception in the College Writers Room, where McGahern’s portrait has pride of place.

 

Last Updated: Tuesday June 23 2009