Professor Frank McGuinness (born 29 July 1953) is an Irish writer. As well as his own works, which include The Factory Girls, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me and Dolly West's Kitchen, he is recognised for a "strong record of adapting literary classics, having translated the plays of Racine, Sophocles, Ibsen and Strindberg to critical acclaim". McGuinness has been Professor of Creative Writing at University College Dublin (UCD) since 2007.
Biography
McGuinness was born in Buncrana, a town located on the Inishowen Peninsula of County Donegal, Ireland. He was educated locally and at University College Dublin, where he studied Pure English and medieval studies to postgraduate level.
He first came to prominence with his play The Factory Girls, but established his reputation with his play about World War I, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, which was staged in Dublin's Abbey Theatre and internationally. The play made a name for him when it was performed at Hampstead Theatre, drawing comments about McGuinness's Irish Catholic background. It won numerous awards including the London Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright for McGuinness and the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize. He has also written new versions of classic dramas, including works by Henrik Ibsen, Anton Chekhov, and Euripides, adapting the literal translations of others. In addition, he wrote the screenplay for the film Dancing at Lughnasa, adapting the stage play by fellow Ulsterman Brian Friel.
Francis (Frank) Vincent McGuinness (13 October 1900 – 30 September 1949) was an Australian newspaper editor and father of the journalist, P. P. McGuinness.
Frank started off his career in journalism at the Geelong Advertiser but was sacked after 'decking' his editor. He also worked for three years at The Farmers Advocate, a metropolitan daily newspaper launched in 1917 as a mouthpiece for the newly formed Victorian Farmers Union, of which his father Michael McGuinness was a leading member. Frank also worked for the Melbourne Herald, and The Sun News Pictorial.
From 1931 Frank was the editor of the weekly tabloid Melbourne newspaper The Truth, which was owned by Ezra Norton. In December 1939 Frank was called as a witness at the Royal Commission which was investigating allegations of bribery to block the passing of the Milk Board Bill and Money-lenders Bill through the Victorian parliament. Frank refused to reveal the source behind articles that he had written in September 1939 which suggested that certain persons were collecting funds for the purpose of bribing members of the Victorian Parliament . He was subsequently fined £15 by the Victorian Supreme Court for an offence against the Evidence Act 1928 (Vict) for refusing to answer questions without a lawful excuse.