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ACCLAIMED AUTHOR JP Donleavy, who is best known for the seminal 1955 novel The Ginger Man, died on Monday at a hospital near his home in Mullingar Co Westmeath.
JP’s sister Mary Rita Donleavy told The New York Times the cause of his death was a stroke.
James Patrick was born in New York in 1926 to Irish parents. His father, Patrick, was from Longford, while his mother, Margaret, was from Galway.
After being honourably discharged from the US Navy in 1946 the writer moved to Ireland to study in Trinity College.
His time in Dublin was to have a huge influence on his debut novel The Ginger Man, which was set in Ireland in the late 1940s.
The book, which is filled with descriptions of sex and outrageous humour, was originally banned by Ireland’s censors.
However it became wildly popular around the world and has never been out of print, selling over 40 million copies.
JP went on to write 12 other novels and plays and was also a visual artist. In 2015 the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards.
He moved to Ireland in 1969 and from 1972 until his death he lived at Levington Park, an 18th-century manor house on a 180-acre estate in Westmeath.
The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, has expressed her sadness on hearing of the passing of JP Donleavy.
She said that the author’s body of work “stands tall alongside contemporaries and friends such as Patrick Kavanagh, Brian O’ Nolan (Flann O’Brian) and Brendan Behan”.
His honouring with the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards in 2015 is testament to his strong contribution to Irish literature. Indeed, when one speaks of iconic contemporary literature of the 20th Century, the name of JP Donleavy will never be far from the conversation.
“I would like to extend my sympathy and condolences to JP’s family and friends at this difficult time,” said the Minister.
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First I hope the woman is ok.
Second I hope the truck driver is ok mentally (I’ve been there. A woman crossing a three lane carriageway in the dark in dark clothing when the driving lights were green. I still suffer the ptsd).
I hope there are drivers with dash footage.
Now for the pedant in me Journal writers. 23:30pm. Really?!!!? It’s either 11:30pm or 23:30!!!
@Helen Downey: plus it happened at 3.30pm according to other sites.
@Helen Downey: This is what’s called ‘victim blaming’ Helen
@Jessie Ginger: No it isnt ffs. You have no idea what happened. Are you trying to tell me you never had to slam on the breaks because someone suddenly crossed the road in front of you?
@Jessie Ginger: arse h@@e u are
@Helen Downey: I have seen teenagers walking home in their dark school uniforms and black schoolbags from 4:30 to after 5pm at this time of year and its lucky that none of them was killed yet…
@Helen Downey: At least no one has started to say 23:30BCE???
Alot happenings in Dunleer in last week, bank machine, someone killed and now this. Hope she gets better soon.
I’ve said it before and Now,Unfortunately,I have to say it again.A moments lapse behind the wheel causes tragedy.Another loss,another grieving family.For the love of God! SLOW DOWN!!! Your Car is a weapon,if misused it will cause Carnage.
@The digenous: Sorry,not a loss please God. Hope this lady recovers. I half read the article and then got annoyed.But,my point remains.
@The digenous: who’s to say it wasn’t a momentary lapse in concentration where she stepped out without looking? Bit presumptuous of you to assume the truck driver is at fault here just because the lady is the injured party……..
@The digenous: It was a truck not a car and how do you know the truck driver was speeding or had a moments lapse?
@Barry Evans: WOW more victim blaming
@Jessie Ginger: youre a bit of an uninformed ignoramous
@The digenous: how do you know it was his fault ?
have your say