Culture That Made Me: Writer Paula Meehan selects her touchstones

Paula Meehan reveals to Richard Fitzpatrick her inspirations, including Brendan Behan, Joni Mitchell, Mark Twain, Sean O’Casey, and Eavan Boland

Paula Meehan has written plays for stage and radio, and her poetry has been set to music by Christy Moore, among others. Picture: Paula T. Nolan.

Born in 1955, Paula Meehan grew up in inner-city Dublin and Finglas. In 1984, she published Return and No Blame, the first of several acclaimed poetry collections. In 2013, she was installed as Ireland’s professor of poetry by President Michael D Higgins. She has written plays for stage and radio, and her poetry has been set to music by Christy Moore, among others.

She will be at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, Monday, June 30, 10pm, for a collaboration with the Chiaroscuro Quartet at St Brendan’s Church.