Padraic O'Farrell (26 March 1932 – 6 November 2003) was an Irish book author, arts critic, playwright, historian, newspaper columnist, essayist, songwriter, theatrical director and theatrical producer. He had at least 33 books (40 according to his obituary) to his credit at the time of his death, with several more slated for release.Anonymous. "Retired Army colonel was one of Ireland's most prolific writers." ''The Irish Times'', Saturday, 15 November 2003. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/retired-army-colonel-was-one-of-ireland-s-most-prolific-writers-1.392516Anonymous. "Padraic O'Farrell." Playography Ireland. Irish Theatre Institute. http://www.irishplayography.com/person.aspx?personid=30141Anonymous. "Padraic O'Farrell." The Lilliput Press. https://www.lilliputpress.ie/author_post/padraic-ofarrell

Biography

Padraic O'Farrell was born in Staplestown,

Donadea Donadea ( ga, Domhnach Dheá) is a civil parish in the barony of Ikeathy and Oughterany in the north of County Kildare, Ireland. There are seven townlands in the parish. There are no large centres of population in the parish. Donadea is noted f ...

County Kildare County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...

. He went to

Knockbeg College St Mary's Knockbeg College ( ga, Coláiste Muire Cnoc Beag) is a Roman Catholic, all-boys secondary school located on the Laois/Carlow border in Ireland, approximately 3 km from both Carlow town and Graiguecullen, Co. Laois. A former sem ...

Carlow Carlow ( ; ) is the county town of County Carlow, in the south-east of Ireland, from Dublin. At the 2016 census, it had a combined urban and rural population of 24,272. The River Barrow flows through the town and forms the historic bounda ...

and briefly studied engineering at

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

before joining the Army Cadets. He subsequently became a full colonel. He married his wife Maureen in 1956 and they had four children: Aisling, Declan, Niamh and Noel.

Work

O'Farrell's writings were first published in ''An Cosantoir'', the Army magazine, while he was in the military. Most of his books concerned Irish history and Irish

folklore Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...

and folkways. O'Farrell's books bearing on Irish history include ''The Burning of Brinsley MacNamara'' (1990), about the controversy surrounding the publication of ''

The Valley of the Squinting Windows ''The Valley of the Squinting Windows'' is a 1918 novel by Brinsley MacNamara (born John Weldon), set in the List of fictional locations, fictional village of Garradrimna, in central Ireland. Setting While MacNamara insisted that Garradrimna cou ...

''; ''The Blacksmith of Ballinalee'' (1993), a biography of

Sean Mac Eoin Sean, also spelled Seán or Séan in Irish English, is a male given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish versions of the Biblical Hebrew name ''Yohanan'' (), Seán (anglicized as ''Shaun/ Shawn/ Shon'') and Séan (Ulster variant; angli ...

; the best-selling ''Rebel Heart'' (1996), a fictional account of

Michael Collins Michael Collins or Mike Collins most commonly refers to: * Michael Collins (Irish leader) (1890–1922), Irish revolutionary leader, soldier, and politician * Michael Collins (astronaut) (1930–2021), American astronaut, member of Apollo 11 and Ge ...

's love affair with

Kitty Kiernan Catherine Brigid Cronin (; 26 January 1892 – 25 July 1945) was an Irish woman widely known as the fiancée of Irish revolutionary leader and Chairman of the Provisional Government, Michael Collins. Early life Catherine Bridget ‘Kitty’ Kie ...

; ''Who's Who in the Irish War of Independence and Civil War: 1916-23'' (1997), which is widely considered to be definitive; and ''The '98 Reader: An Anthology of Song, Ballads, Prose and Poetry'' (1998), a collection of accounts of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. O'Farrell's published work on Irish folklore and other aspects of traditional culture include ''How the Irish Speak English'' (1980), ''Before the Devil Knows You're Dead: Irish Blessings, Toasts, and Curses'' (1993), ''Ancient Irish Legends'' (2001) and ''Irish Folk Cures'' (2004).Books by Padraic O'Farrell. Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/19384.Padraic_O_Farrell?page=1&per_page=30 O'Farrell was heavily engaged with the theater. He contributed news and reviews of theatrical productions and the arts to numerous magazines and newspapers, including ''

The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...

'' and the ''

Irish Examiner The ''Irish Examiner'', formerly ''The Cork Examiner'' and then ''The Examiner'', is an Irish national daily newspaper which primarily circulates in the Munster region surrounding its base in Cork, though it is available throughout the country. ...

''. He wrote scripts for leading Irish actresses Maureen Potter,

Maureen Toal Maureen Toal (7 September 1930 – 24 August 2012) was an Irish stage and television actress whose professional career lasted for more than sixty years. She was born in 1930 and was originally from Fairview, Dublin. Toal began performing at the ...

Eileen Colgan Eileen Colgan Simpson (2 January 1934 – 10 March 2014) was an Irish theatre, television and film actress. She was best known for her recurring role as Esther Roche on the RTÉ One soap opera, ''Fair City''. She also appeared in the RTÉ televis ...

and Anna Manahan, and, together with his wife, wrote, directed and produced dozens of plays and revues in Westmeath. His touring theater company, Lyncairn Theatre, staged popular drama across Ireland. His play ''Kitty'' was about the women in the lives of Michael Collins and Sean Mac Eoin, and his play ''Matchmaking'', based on the work of

John B. Keane John Brendan Keane (21 July 1928 – 30 May 2002) was an Irish playwright, novelist and essayist from Listowel, County Kerry. Biography A son of a national school teacher, William B. Keane, and his wife Hannah (née Purtill), Keane was ...

, dramatized the 1798 Rebellion. O'Farrell's book ''Green and Chaste and Foolish: Irish Literary and Theatrical Anecdotes'' (1994) is about prominent figures in Irish theatrical and literary milieux.

References

External links

*Books by Padraic O'Farrell: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/19384.Padraic_O_Farrell?page=1&per_page=30 {{DEFAULTSORT:OFarrell, Padraic 1932 births 2003 deaths Irish male novelists