The Arts Council expresses great sadness at the passing of the distinguished Irish writer, Edna O’Brien, who has passed away at the age of 93. Elected to Aosdána by her peers and fellow Irish artists, she was honoured with the title Saoi in 2015. 
 
Born
in Co. Clare in 1930, Edna was a trailblazing Irish writer. Writing about Ireland from her residence in London gave her a distance from the country’s oppressive culture and granted her freedom of expression. Her novels, several of which were banned
in the 1960s, include The
Country Girls (1960), The Lonely Girl (1962), The Girl With the
Green Eyes (1962), Girls in their Married Bliss (1963), August is
a Wicked Month (1964), Casualties of Peace (1966), Night (1972), A Pagan Place (1970), Night (1972), The High Road (1988), Time and Tide (1992), House of Splendid Isolation (1994),
Down by River (1996) and Wild Decembers (1999). 
 
Recognised as one of “the greatest Irish writers of the twentieth century” (Dwight Garner, New York Times) and “the most gifted woman now writing in English” (Philip Roth), Edna
O’Brien was a bestselling novelist, memoirist, playwright, poet and short story writer. In 2001, Edna received the Irish PEN Award, in 2006 she was awarded the Ulysses Medal by University College Dublin, and she won the 2018 PEN/Nabokov Award for
Achievement in International Literature. 

Maura McGrath, Chair of the Arts Council, said:

“Edna O’Brien was a singular voice in the landscape of Irish literature. With Country Girls, she was fearless and unwavering in her storytelling of Irish women during an oppressive time in our history. Her writing gave identity to a generation of women
with complex and contradictory relationships with their own rural communities across the country.” 

Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council, said: 

“Despite protest and outrage, Edna’s writing revolutionised Irish literature and is now recognised as an intricate part of our culture. Eloquence, intelligence, defiance and resilience could be seen as Edna’s defining qualities. However, her generosity,
her wit and her mischievous nature wove together a fascinating, outspoken and gifted writer.” 

Peter Sirr, Evelyn Conlon and Jimmy Murphy, fellow Aosdána members and members of Aosdána Toscaireacht:

“Edna O’Brien was a great spirit and a fierce imaginative force whose work changed the temperature and reach of Irish literature. It was our great honour to mark her achievements by electing her to the highest honour within our affiliation, as Saoi of Aosdána. On being contacted about her nomination to be elected, she wittily replied that she’d very much like more wisdom instead of this angst about work. She placed her delight firmly in the context of that and replied that she was ‘writing a dark old book and therefore all the more delighted for the honour.”

“Even in her later years, Edna O’Brien continued to push boundaries, boldly moving into theatre and leaving an indelible mark on the Irish theatrical landscape.”

On the 15 September 2015 Edna O’Brien was elected Saoi of Aosdána in a ceremony presided over by President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, where she was presented with the symbol of the office of Saoi, the gold Torc. 
 
Edna is survived by her
sons Carlo Gébler, writer and fellow Aosdána member, Sasha Gébler, founding director and Chairman of Gébler Tooth Architects.

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Yesterday the Arts Council and Westmeath County Council held a special event to commemorate the centenary of renowned author and Athlone native, John Broderick. With over 100 people in attendance, the celebration took place at the award-winning Luan Gallery
in Athlone. The evening was a tribute to Broderick’s life, his influential work, and his enduring legacy in the Irish literary canon and LGBTQ+ fiction. The event saw author Eithne Shortall announced as this year’s recipient of the John Broderick
writer’s residency. This was accompanied by the relaunch of John’s acclaimed novel, The Waking of
Willie Ryan, in print and for the first time as an audio book.

John Broderick, born on 30 July 1924 in Athlone, was a distinguished author and literary critic. Throughout his lifetime, he authored 12 novels, with notable works including The Waking of Willie Ryan and the once-banned, The Pilgrimage.
Broderick passed away in Bath, England, in 1989.

Following his death, Broderick bequeathed his estate to the Arts Council for “the benefit and advancement of the Arts in Athlone”. This generous endowment has since established a writer’s residency in Athlone, benefiting writers Annemarie Ní Churreáin
(2018), Martin Dyar (2019), and Keith Payne (2021), who have all deeply engaged with Broderick’s works during their residencies.

The 2024 recipient of the John Broderick writer’s residency, Eithne Shortall, is an esteemed author, columnist, and broadcaster. Eithne has penned five bestselling novels, including Love in Row 27 and Grace After Henry,
the latter winning Best Page Turner at the UK’s Big Book Awards. She has also contributed significantly to journalism and broadcasting, working with RTÉ, BBC, and TG4. Eithne will begin her residency in September 2024.

Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council,
said: 

“We are thrilled with the selection of Eithne Shortall as the John Broderick Writer In Residence 2024. John’s work during the 1960s and 1970s inspired and challenged readers with its depth and honesty. He wrote about topics rarely expressed at the time
and his generous legacy has profoundly impacted the arts in Athlone. The writer’s residency established through his bequest has nurtured remarkable talent, allowing writers to delve deeply into Broderick’s works and create new, resonant literature.
This centenary celebration, including Eithne’s appointment is a testament to his enduring influence and the vital role the arts play in our community.”

Speaking
at the launch yesterday, Sinéad O’Reilly, Director of Combined Arts in the Arts
Council, said: 

“With this centenary event and residency series we are shining a spotlight on his legacy and his rightful place alongside literary peers such as Brendan Behan and Flann O’Brien. His dedication to the arts and hometown of Athlone deserves this celebration
of his life and works and the affirmation of his lasting impact on the literary world. As we move into the centenary programme, the new writer in residence Eithne Shortall will pay a vital role in bringing John Broderick’s legacy to life.”

Also
in attendance was Cllr Frankie Keena, Mayor of Athlone Municipal District, who
said: 

“Westmeath has produced some fine cultural figures, and among its best is John Broderick. The centenary of Broderick’s birth allows us the opportunity to celebrate Broderick’s significant contributions to Ireland’s literary culture and his cultural contributions
to the town of Athlone. Wonderful opportunity to gather in Athlone’s stunning Luan Gallery on July 30 to celebrate Broderick’s life and legacy.”

The centenary celebration honoured Broderick’s contributions to literature and his significant impact on LGBTQ+ fiction in Ireland. The event featured readings, discussions, and reflections on his work and its relevance today. 

In conjunction with the centenary, Broderick’s acclaimed novel, The Waking of
Willie Ryan, will be republished by Lilliput Press. This new edition will be available in both print and audio book formats, narrated by actor Naoise Dunbar. The novel tells the story of Willie Ryan, a sixty-year-old gay man who returns to his hometown
after twenty-five years in an insane asylum, where he was committed by his family. Naoise read extracts from this book at the event. 

The paperback will also be available via the libraries network and can also be purchased through Lilliput Press and bookstores across the country from
week beginning the 29 July.

The audio book will be available for free through the Libraries network on the Borrow Box app and on the Lilliput website.

The event included poetry recitals by previous Writers In Residence, Keith Payne and Annemarie Ní Churreáin. Insights into John’s writing was offered from Maynooth University lecturer Martin G. Cronin. Actor Naoise Dunbar performed a reading from the
newly republished The Waking Of Willy Ryan, while music was provided on the night by Bream / Dylan O’Muineóg. 

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