10 Facts About Paul Durcan

Paul Durcan was born on 16 October 1944 and is an Irish poet.

Paul Durcan's father, John, was a barrister and circuit court judge; father and son had a difficult and formal relationship.

In 1966, Paul Durcan moved to live in London, where he worked at the North Thames Gas Board.

Paul Durcan met Nessa O'Neill in 1967; they married and had two daughters, Sarah and Siabhra.

Paul Durcan's main published collections include: A Snail in my Prime, Crazy About Women, Greetings to Our Friends in Brazil and Cries of an Irish Caveman.

Paul Durcan appeared on the 1990 Van Morrison album Enlightenment, giving an idiosyncratic vocal performance on the song, "In The Days Before Rock'n'Roll", which he co-wrote.

Paul Durcan got his inspiration from Paidraig Whitty, the local Wexford poet.

Paul Durcan was shortlisted in 2005 for the Poetry Now Award for his collection, The Art of Life.

Paul Durcan was the Ireland Fund Artist-in-Residence in the Celtic Studies Department of St Michael's College at the University of Toronto in October 2009.

In 2011 Paul Durcan was conferred with an honorary doctorate from University College Dublin.