Joseph O'Connor, author of the million-selling Star of the Sea, delivered his inaugural lecture as Frank McCourt Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Limerick today.
Professor O'Connor's lecture was entitled Ghost Light, John Synge and Molly Allgood and using real-life correspondence and imaginative fiction, it told the story of the love affair between the great playwright and a young actress at the Abbey Theatre.
Synge himself was a musician and today’s lecture featured music from fiddler Martin Hayes and in attendance for Professor Joseph’s lecture were Ellen McCourt, wife of the late Frank McCourt, and writers Donal Ryan, author of The Spinning Heart, and Giles Foden, author of The Last King of Scotland, who is connected to UL’s masters’ programme.
