Roy McFadden


Roy McFadden was an Irish poet. He was the author of nine volumes of poetry, from Swords and Ploughshares to the posthumously published Last Poems. Among his poems are "Saint Francis and the Birds" and "Independence". His book, The Garryowen, was published by Chatto and Windus in the Phoenix Living Poets series. Most recently, his poem "Post-War" has been anthologised in Armistice: A Laureate's Choice of Poems of War and Peace .
In 1948, McFadden co-founded with Barbara Edwards the Northern Irish poetry magazine and, then, co-edited it with her during its whole run, until 1953.
The Roy McFadden Papers, comprising the poet's personal manuscripts and papers, are lodged at Queen's University Belfast.
The Roy McFadden Library, at Trinity College Dublin, comprises books and journals on Irish and world literature from the poet's collection.
A comprehensive collection of Roy McFadden's published work is held at the South Bank Poetry Library, London.

Personal Life

He was born in Downpatrick on 14th November 1921 and soon after relocated to Belfast. He graduated in Law from Queen's University in 1944 and went on to become a prominent lawyer and figure in Belfast literary scene.