Niall Sheridan (1912–1998) was an Irish poet, fiction-writer, and broadcaster, remembered primarily for his friendships with better-known Irish writers Brian O'Nolan (who published under the pseudonym Flann O'Brien) and Donagh MacDonagh.
As a student at University College Dublin he cofounded the journal Blather with O'Nolan and his brother Ciaran O'Nolan.[1] Sheridan was also the editor of the college literary magazine Comhthrom Feinne (Fair Play).[2] Sheridan was one of the founders of the so-called "Cult of Joyce" at UCD, which also included O'Nolan, Denis Devlin, Donagh MacDonagh, and other latterly influential writers.[3]
While a student, Sheridan shared a room with MacDonagh in Rathmines, in a house featuring a Great Dane named Thor and numerous visits from other aspirant writers, artists, and thinkers.[4] The poet and left-wing agitator Charles Donnelly was a particularly frequent guest. Sheridan and MacDonagh published a book titled Twenty Poems (they contributed ten each), which Colm Ó Lochlainn printed in a limited edition of 300 copies in 1934.[4][5]
Relationship with Flann O'Brienedit
Sheridan remained close to O'Nolan, and the two conspired on provocations on the letters pages of the Irish Times.[1] At the same time, with other UCD friends at Grogan's Pub in Dublin, they were making plans for a literary revolution in the form of a collaboratively written political novel (never completed) to be titled Children of Destiny.[6] As the literary stature of some of his friends grew, and these early plans gave way to major accomplishments, Sheridan's formative role was remembered. He is represented closely by the character of Brinsley in O'Nolan's At Swim-Two-Birds, a highly literate fellow student of the narrator described as "an intellectual Meath-man; given to close-knit epigrammatic talk."[7][8] Many details of Sheridan's life and work were incorporated into O'Nolan's novel, including his early translations of Catullus (featured in Twenty Poems).[9] Following the book's publication, Sheridan brought it to James Joyce in Paris, though Joyce told him he had already read it.[10]
In 1949, Sheridan and O'Nolan published, anonymously, an interview with John Stanislaus Joyce, James Joyce's father.[11] The authenticity of this interview was later doubted, and it was chalked up as one of O'Nolan's many literary pranks.[12] Nevertheless, Sheridan insisted to Joyce's biographer Richard Ellmann that the interview had happened, and the question remains unsettled.[11]
Later life and broadcastingedit
In 1939, Sheridan married Monica Treanor, a chef. Like Monica, Sheridan became a broadcaster, working on the show Information Please for Radio Éireann.[13] As his employer, now Raidió Teilifís Éireann, expanded into television, Sheridan contributed such works as a teleplay titled "A Dog's Life" and several productions about O'Nolan/O'Brien.[14][15][16] Sheridan continued to be active in the literary world, often on behalf of the friends of his youth; in 1950, for example, he published an introduction to Devlin's "The Heavenly Foreigner" in Poetry Ireland, noting that "on careful reading, superficial obscurities vanish."[17] Following MacDonagh's death in 1968, Sheridan wrote a preface for his poetry collection A Warning to Conquerors.[18] He worked occasionally on his own pieces as well, and his play Seven Men and a Dog was performed by the Abbey Theatre in 1958.[19]
^ abJernigan, Daniel Keith (2016). ""Simulat Ergo Est": Brian O'Nolan's Metaperformative Simulations". New Hibernia Review / Iris Éireannach Nua. 20 (1): 87–104. ISSN 1092-3977. JSTOR 44807168.
^Donnelly, Joseph (1987), Charlie Donnelly The Life and Pomes, The Dedalus Press, Dublin, pg. 25, ISBN 0 948268 31 X
^Costello, Peter (2004). "James Joyce and the Remaking of Modern Ireland". Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review. 93 (370): 121–132. ISSN 0039-3495. JSTOR 30095943.
^ abMacDonagh, Donagh (1960). "Club Sans Club". University Review. 2 (3/4): 91–95. ISSN 0566-2478. JSTOR 25510064.
^Ó Cuilleanáin, Cormac (1984). "Irish Publishers: A Nation Once Too Often". The Crane Bag. 8 (2): 115–123. ISSN 0332-060X. JSTOR 30023290.
^Cohen, David (1993). "An Atomy of the Novel: Flann O'Brien's At Swim-Two-Birds". Twentieth Century Literature. 39 (2): 208–229. doi:10.2307/441839. ISSN 0041-462X. JSTOR 441839.
^Gallagher, Monique (1992). "Reflecting Mirrors in Flann O'Brien's "At Swim-Two-Birds"". The Journal of Narrative Technique. 22 (2): 128–135. ISSN 0022-2925. JSTOR 30225357.
^Taaffe, Carol (2004). "'Tell Me This, Do You Ever Open a Book at All?': Portraits of the Reader in Brian O'Nolan's "At Swim-Two-Birds"". Irish University Review. 34 (2): 247–260. ISSN 0021-1427. JSTOR 25504977.
^Dotterer, Ronald L. (2004). "Flann O'Brien, James Joyce, and "The Dalkey Archive"". New Hibernia Review / Iris Éireannach Nua. 8 (2): 54–63. ISSN 1092-3977. JSTOR 20557925.
^ abKilleen, Terence. "An alleged hoax". The Irish Times.
^Heckard, Margaret; Joyce, John Stanislaus (1976). "The Literary Reverberations of a Fake Interview with John Stanislaus Joyce". James Joyce Quarterly. pp. 468–471. JSTOR 25487294.
^Archives, RTÉ (5 July 2012). "RTÉ Archives". stillslibrary.rte.ie. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
^"The Wonderful Worlds Of Flann O'Brien". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
^"Flann O'Brien At Swim Two Birds". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
^Hogan, Robert, ed. (1980). MacMillan Dictionary of Irish Literature. London: MacMillan. p. 205. ISBN9781349077977.
^MacDonagh, Donagh (1968). A Warning to Conquerors. Dublin: Dolmen Press. OCLC 1038086156
^"Seven Men And A Dog | Abbey Archives | Abbey Theatre – Amharclann na Mainistreach". Abbey Theatre. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
January 01, 1970
niall, sheridan, 1912, 1998, irish, poet, fiction, writer, broadcaster, remembered, primarily, friendships, with, better, known, irish, writers, brian, nolan, published, under, pseudonym, flann, brien, donagh, macdonagh, contents, academic, life, early, work, . Niall Sheridan 1912 1998 was an Irish poet fiction writer and broadcaster remembered primarily for his friendships with better known Irish writers Brian O Nolan who published under the pseudonym Flann O Brien and Donagh MacDonagh Contents 1 Academic life and early work 2 Relationship with Flann O Brien 3 Later life and broadcasting 4 See also 5 ReferencesAcademic life and early work editAs a student at University College Dublin he cofounded the journal Blather with O Nolan and his brother Ciaran O Nolan 1 Sheridan was also the editor of the college literary magazine Comhthrom Feinne Fair Play 2 Sheridan was one of the founders of the so called Cult of Joyce at UCD which also included O Nolan Denis Devlin Donagh MacDonagh and other latterly influential writers 3 While a student Sheridan shared a room with MacDonagh in Rathmines in a house featuring a Great Dane named Thor and numerous visits from other aspirant writers artists and thinkers 4 The poet and left wing agitator Charles Donnelly was a particularly frequent guest Sheridan and MacDonagh published a book titled Twenty Poems they contributed ten each which Colm o Lochlainn printed in a limited edition of 300 copies in 1934 4 5 Relationship with Flann O Brien editSheridan remained close to O Nolan and the two conspired on provocations on the letters pages of the Irish Times 1 At the same time with other UCD friends at Grogan s Pub in Dublin they were making plans for a literary revolution in the form of a collaboratively written political novel never completed to be titled Children of Destiny 6 As the literary stature of some of his friends grew and these early plans gave way to major accomplishments Sheridan s formative role was remembered He is represented closely by the character of Brinsley in O Nolan s At Swim Two Birds a highly literate fellow student of the narrator described as an intellectual Meath man given to close knit epigrammatic talk 7 8 Many details of Sheridan s life and work were incorporated into O Nolan s novel including his early translations of Catullus featured in Twenty Poems 9 Following the book s publication Sheridan brought it to James Joyce in Paris though Joyce told him he had already read it 10 In 1949 Sheridan and O Nolan published anonymously an interview with John Stanislaus Joyce James Joyce s father 11 The authenticity of this interview was later doubted and it was chalked up as one of O Nolan s many literary pranks 12 Nevertheless Sheridan insisted to Joyce s biographer Richard Ellmann that the interview had happened and the question remains unsettled 11 Later life and broadcasting editIn 1939 Sheridan married Monica Treanor a chef Like Monica Sheridan became a broadcaster working on the show Information Please for Radio Eireann 13 As his employer now Raidio Teilifis Eireann expanded into television Sheridan contributed such works as a teleplay titled A Dog s Life and several productions about O Nolan O Brien 14 15 16 Sheridan continued to be active in the literary world often on behalf of the friends of his youth in 1950 for example he published an introduction to Devlin s The Heavenly Foreigner in Poetry Ireland noting that on careful reading superficial obscurities vanish 17 Following MacDonagh s death in 1968 Sheridan wrote a preface for his poetry collection A Warning to Conquerors 18 He worked occasionally on his own pieces as well and his play Seven Men and a Dog was performed by the Abbey Theatre in 1958 19 See also editJames Casey poet priest who inspired another character in At Swim Two BirdsReferences edit a b Jernigan Daniel Keith 2016 Simulat Ergo Est Brian O Nolan s Metaperformative Simulations New Hibernia Review Iris Eireannach Nua 20 1 87 104 ISSN 1092 3977 JSTOR 44807168 Donnelly Joseph 1987 Charlie Donnelly The Life and Pomes The Dedalus Press Dublin pg 25 ISBN 0 948268 31 X Costello Peter 2004 James Joyce and the Remaking of Modern Ireland Studies An Irish Quarterly Review 93 370 121 132 ISSN 0039 3495 JSTOR 30095943 a b MacDonagh Donagh 1960 Club Sans Club University Review 2 3 4 91 95 ISSN 0566 2478 JSTOR 25510064 MacDonagh Donagh Sheridan Niall 1934 Twenty Poems Dublin Privately printed OCLC 13119339 o Cuilleanain Cormac 1984 Irish Publishers A Nation Once Too Often The Crane Bag 8 2 115 123 ISSN 0332 060X JSTOR 30023290 Cohen David 1993 An Atomy of the Novel Flann O Brien s At Swim Two Birds Twentieth Century Literature 39 2 208 229 doi 10 2307 441839 ISSN 0041 462X JSTOR 441839 Gallagher Monique 1992 Reflecting Mirrors in Flann O Brien s At Swim Two Birds The Journal of Narrative Technique 22 2 128 135 ISSN 0022 2925 JSTOR 30225357 Taaffe Carol 2004 Tell Me This Do You Ever Open a Book at All Portraits of the Reader in Brian O Nolan s At Swim Two Birds Irish University Review 34 2 247 260 ISSN 0021 1427 JSTOR 25504977 Dotterer Ronald L 2004 Flann O Brien James Joyce and The Dalkey Archive New Hibernia Review Iris Eireannach Nua 8 2 54 63 ISSN 1092 3977 JSTOR 20557925 a b Killeen Terence An alleged hoax The Irish Times Heckard Margaret Joyce John Stanislaus 1976 The Literary Reverberations of a Fake Interview with John Stanislaus Joyce James Joyce Quarterly pp 468 471 JSTOR 25487294 Death of veteran broadcaster The Irish Times Archives RTE 5 July 2012 RTE Archives stillslibrary rte ie Retrieved 29 November 2021 The Wonderful Worlds Of Flann O Brien RTE Archives Retrieved 29 November 2021 Flann O Brien At Swim Two Birds RTE Archives Retrieved 29 November 2021 Hogan Robert ed 1980 MacMillan Dictionary of Irish Literature London MacMillan p 205 ISBN 9781349077977 MacDonagh Donagh 1968 A Warning to Conquerors Dublin Dolmen Press OCLC 1038086156 Seven Men And A Dog Abbey Archives Abbey Theatre Amharclann na Mainistreach Abbey Theatre Retrieved 29 November 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Niall Sheridan amp oldid 1184479024, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
