Irish Writer and broadcaster who was a Journalist for the Irish Independent newspaper. His many short story collections and novels include The State of Ireland: A Novella and Seven Short Stories (1981) and Dogs Enjoy the Morning (1968).
He was the youngest of six children and was raised in Dromore, County Tyrone, Ireland. He attended University College Dublin and National University and began his journalistic career with The Weekly Standard.
He wrote ten novels over the course of his career. His last work, "Nothing Happens in Carmincross," was published in 1985.
He married Maureen O'Connell in 1944. The couple had four children: Mary, Anne, John, and Emer.
He and U2 frontman, Bono, were both born in Ireland.
