Remembering the New York born writer of novels, short stories and plays who made Mullingar his home.
James Patrick Donleavy is best remembered for his 1955 novel 'The Ginger Man'. The book went from being banned in Ireland to becoming a 20th century classic, selling millions of copies worldwide.
Once a banned book, now considered a classic novel of the twentieth century.
JP Donleavy moved to Ireland after the Second World War and studied at Trinity College Dublin. His experiences there, along with his friend Gainor Crist, inspired 'The Ginger Man' and the book's unforgettable anti‑hero, Sebastian Dangerfield.
His adventures in late 1940s Dublin scandalised some readers and entertained and inspired many more.
Over the course of his career, JP Donleavy wrote many more works of fiction, including 'The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B' (1968). Among his admirers was actor Johnny Depp, who at one point expressed interest in adapting The Ginger Man for film.
In addition to his writing, JP Donleavy was an accomplished visual artist. In 2015, he received a lifetime achievement award at the Irish Book Awards.
From the 1970s onwards, he made his home at Levington House in Mullingar, where he lived for many years until his death on 11 September 2017.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 14 September 2017. The reporter is Sinéad Crowley.
