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Celebrated John McGahern Biographer Professor Frank Shovlin to Visit UCC

2 Nov 2026

The School of English and Digital Humanities at University College Cork will welcome leading literary scholar Professor Frank Shovlin for a special public discussion on his acclaimed new biography of renowned Irish writer John McGahern on Friday, 4 December in the Dr Dora Allman Room.

Published by Faber, John McGahern has already received significant critical recognition and has been shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards Dubray Biography of the Year Award. 

During the event, Professor Shovlin will discuss the life and literary legacy of one of Ireland's most influential twentieth-century writers. 

The biography has been praised by critics, with the Financial Times commending Shovlin's "commanding knowledge" of McGahern's work and highlighting his ability to illuminate the relationship between the author's life and writing. 

Professor Shovlin is Professor of Irish Literature in English at the Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool, and editor of The Letters of John McGahern.

Hosted by UCC's School of English and Digital Humanities, the event is free to attend, advance booking is required via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/frank-shovlin-discusses-his-new-biography-of-john-mcgahern-at-ucc-tickets-2004237109146 

Copies of the biography will be available for purchase on the evening.

For more on this story contact:

englishdepartment@ucc.ie 

Future Humanities Institute

Institiúid na nDaonnachtaí Feasta

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