Home
Up

Patrick MacGill 1891-1963

Born near Glenties in County Donegal. He was hired out at the age of twelve and two years later was working on the potato fields in Scotland. He wrote several books of poetry - Gleanings from a Navvy’s Scrapbook, Songs of a Navvy and Songs of the Dead End - which earned him the title of the Navvy Poet. However it was his novels based on his experiences – Children of the Dead End and The Rat Pit - that brought him major success.  He used his War experiences in novels such as The Great Push and The Red Horizon. Altogether he wrote nearly twenty novels. In 1930 he went to America, where he remained until his death. He is buried in Fall River. His wife was also a writer. Photos by Jude Scales

Further information, location and directions to the grave are to be found in "The End - An Illustrated Guide to the Graves of Irish Writers".  Click here to order a copy of this book