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Eilís Dillon

1920 – 1994

Irish writer

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About Eilís Dillon

Lived 1920 – 1994 (aged 74). Eilís Dillon was an Irish poet, writer and children's writer.

Eilís Dillon FRSL (7 March 1920 – 19 July 1994) was an Irish author of 50 books. Her work has been translated into 14 languages.

Early life Dillon was the third of five children of Professor Thomas Dillon and his wife Geraldine née Plunkett, who was the sister of Joseph Mary Plunkett. She was raised at Dangan House outside of Galway City before moving to the small fishing village of Barna. She attended the local primary school where she became proficient in Irish and gained an intimate knowledge of Connemara traditions. Dillon's family was involved in Irish revolutionary politics; her uncle Joseph Mary Plunkett was a signatory of the 1916 Proclamation and was executed after the Easter Rising.

Early writing career Dillon's first books were in Irish including An Choill Bheo, published in 1948, Oscar agus an Cóiste sé nEasóg in 1952 and Ceol na coille in 1955. After the success of The Lost Island, published in 1952, she wrote almost exclusively in English. Most of her books were aimed at teen readers with themes of self-discovery and problem-solving evident.

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Important facts

Birth century
Awards
Honorary doctorate; Bisto Book of the Year Awards
Also known as
Eilis Dillon, Eilia Dillon

Family & relationships

Spouse
Cormac Ó Cuilleanáin
Spouse
Vivian Mercier
Child
Cormac Ó Cuilleanáin
Child
Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin

People in Eilís Dillon's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Eilís Dillon's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Eilís Dillon?

Irish writer (1920–1994)

When was Eilís Dillon born?

Eilís Dillon was born on 7 March 1920 in Galway.

When did Eilís Dillon die?

Eilís Dillon died on 19 July 1994 in Dublin.

What was Eilís Dillon's occupation?

Eilís Dillon was a poet, writer and children's writer.

What nationality was Eilís Dillon?

Eilís Dillon was Irish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Eilís Dillon

· Wikidata: Q1567235

· DBpedia: Eilís Dillon

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Eilís Dillon. https://biography.guide/eilis-dillon/

MLA: "Eilís Dillon." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/eilis-dillon/.

Chicago: "Eilís Dillon." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/eilis-dillon/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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