Roddy Doyle is an Irish novelist, playwright and screenwriter, counting eleven novels for adults, eight books for children, seven plays and screenplays, dozens of short stories and a raft of literary awards to his name.
Born on Dublin Ireland on 8thMay 1958, Doyle grew up in a middle class family in Kilbarrack. He comes from a literary family, his mother’s first cousin was short story writer Maeve Brennan. Doyle graduated from University College Dublin and went on to spend several years as an English and Geography teacher before becoming a full-time writer in 1993.
Roddy Doyle’s debut novel was The Commitments, adapted into a highly successful movie and inspiring the four more books, a popular pentalogy the books comprise The Commitments, The Snapper, The Van, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha (Booker Prize Winner), and The Guts. The first three of these novels have all been adapted for screen.
My personal favourite from the author is The Woman Who Walked into Doors, from the Paula Spencer novels, one of the most fully formed female characters I have ever read, and highly recommended by J. K Rowling (who also calls Roddy Doyle her ‘favourite living author).
Also highly recommended, and full of incredibly beautiful and poetic writing is the Last Roundup series, three books starting with A Star Called Henry and continuing with Oh, Play That Thing, and The Dead Republic.
All of this without a mention of the fantastic plays and screenplays the author has written throughout the years.
Today we’re wishing the happiest of birthdays to Roddy Doyle and if you haven’t already checked out his work, you really should do so!
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