Walter Macken

Born in Galway in 1915, Walter Macken became involved as an actor in the local Taibhdhearc theatre while still at school. He served as the theatre's playwright and director before moving on to the Abbey Theatre in 1947. Macken later played lead roles on Broadway and starred in the film adaptation of Brendan Behan's The Quare Fellow. He has written plays in English and Irish, as well as novels, short stories and children's books. His plays include Mungo's Mansion (1946) and Home is the Hero (1952). His novels include The Bogman (1952), the historical trilogy Seek the Fair Land (1959), The Silent People (1962)and The Scorching Wind (1964). Macken's third novel, Rain on the Wind (1950), became a huge success and allowed him to dedicate himself to writing full-time. His children's book, Flight of the Doves (1968), was made into a major feature film. Walter Macken moved back to the rural area of Connemara in 1951 where he died in 1967.