Which Famous Writers Come From The Island Of Ireland?

Ireland has a long literary tradition that stretches back and reaches near.  Some say it's the water or the quality of life, and some says it's the Guinness or the 'Water of Life'.

With regards to playwrights, some of Northern Ireland's leading playwrights include Martin Lynch, Gary Mitchell, Marie Jones, Eddie Kerr (for local Derry work) and Dave Duggan.

Across the border in the Republic, there's too many mention, but playwrights include: Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, Sean O'Casey, Conor McPherson, Synge, Brian Friel, Gerorge Bernard Shaw, Martin McDonagh and many others. Poets include: Seamus Heaney, W.B Yeats and of course, the Limerick rhyme, which is named after a place in Ireland.

In the North, writers such as Colin Bateman have established a very Northern sense of humour in popular fiction.  His work Murphy's Law became a TV series.

At present, living in the Republic of Ireland is great for writers, as they still experience tax-free employment.

To add to Epictetus' list: James Joyce was born in Ireland, though he left there to live in Europe.  Joyce's novels ULYSSES, A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN, and FINNEGANS WAKE are among the most acclaimed works of the 20th century (even if not many folks have read them.  )

Other writers from the Emerald Isle include the playwright Brendan Behan, the short story writer Liam O'Flaherty, and the comic book writers Garth Ennis and Peter Milligan.

That's not even counting the terrific songwriters who come from Ireland, including Van Morrison and Bono.