Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Seán O'Casey

Role / Field:

Pioneering Irish dramatist known for socialist works depicting Dublin's working class.

Born:

1880-03-30

Died:

1964-09-18

Century / Era:

1880s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Seán O'Casey (Irish: Seán Ó Cathasaigh [ˈʃaːn̪ˠ oː ˈkahəsˠiː]; born John Casey; 30 March 1880 – 18 September 1964) was an Irish dramatist and memoirist. A committed socialist, he was the first Irish playwright of note to write about the struggles and experiences of the working class in Dublin. He is best known for his "Dublin Trilogy", which includes The Shadow of a Gunman (1923), Juno and the Paycock (1924) and The Plough and the Stars (1926). O'Casey was born at 85 Upper Dorset Street, Dublin, as John Casey, the son of Michael Casey, a mercantile clerk (who worked for the Irish Church Missions), and Susan Archer.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His parents were Protestants and he was a member of the Church of Ireland, baptised on 28 July 1880 in St. Mary's parish, confirmed at St John the Baptist Church in Clontarf, and an active member of St. Barnabas' Church on Sheriff Street until his mid-20s, when he drifted away from the church. There is a church called 'Saint Burnupus' in his play Red Roses For Me. O'Casey's father died when Seán was just six years of age, leaving a family of thirteen.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The family lived a peripatetic life thereafter, moving from house to house around north Dublin. As a child...

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Frequently Asked Questions about Seán O'Casey