Ulick O'Connor

Ulick O'Connor ( ; 12 October 1928 – 7 October 2019) was an Irish writer, historian and critic.

Early life

Born in Rathgar, County Dublin, in 1928 to Matthew O'Connor, the Dean of the Royal College of Surgeons, O'Connor attended Garbally College, Ballinasloe, St. Mary's College, Rathmines and later University College Dublin, where he studied law and philosophy, becoming known as a keen sporting participant, especially in boxing, rugby and cricket, as well as a distinguished debater – during his time there he was an active member of the Literary and Historical Society. He subsequently studied at Loyola University, New Orleans. He was called to the bar in 1951.

O'Connor's great-grandfather was Matt Harris, Land Leaguer, Fenian, and Irish Parliamentary Party Member of Parliament. He was related to American actor Carroll O'Connor. He died on 7 October 2019, five days short of his 91st birthday.

Published works

Plays

The Dream Box (1972) The Dark Lovers (1975) The Emperor’s Envoy (1976) The Grand Inquisitor; Submarine; and Deirdre (Dublin 1977, New York 1980) Execution (1985) The Oval Machine (1986) A Trinity of Two (1988) Joyicity (1989) Deux de la Trinite (translated by Ramond Gerome, 1990).

Poetry collections

Lifestyles (1973) Three Noh Plays (1980) All Things Counter (1986) One is Animate (1990) Poems of the Damned (translations from Baudelaire's Fleur du Mal, 1991).

Non-fiction and autobiography

Irish Tales and Sagas (1981) A Critic at Large (1984) Biographers and the Art of Biography (1990) The Ulick O'Connor Diaries, 1970-1981: A Cavalier Irishman (2003)

Biographical writings

The Times I've Seen: Oliver St. John Gogarty: A Biography (1963) Brendan Behan (1970) Executions (1983) Celtic Dawn: A Portrait of the Irish Literary Renaissance (1984) US edition: All the Olympians: A Biographical Portrait of the Irish Literary Renaissance (1984) The Troubles: Michael Collins and the Volunteers in the Fight for Irish Freedom 1912-22 (2001)