Poets & Writers

The Sperrins has been home to many literary figures, The hills and glens doubtless provided the inspiration for much of their writing. The background of these wordsmiths varies from Presbyterian minister to the wife of a Church of Ireland bishop; labourer to scholar; nationalist to unionist… but all inspired by the Sperrins muse.

Alice Milligan

Born in Mountfield the interests and achievements of Alice Milligan’s life were rooted in factors already bubbling in the Irish cauldron at the time of her birth in the 1860’s.

Brian Friel

Brian Friel was born in Omagh, Co Tyrone in 1929, and in 1939 moved with his family to Derry.

Cecil Frances Alexander

Although born in Dublin in 1818, Cecil Frances Alexander spent a considerable period of her life within the Strabane area.

Dr George Sigerson

Dr George Sigerson, born in 1836 at Hollyhill, near Strabane.

Felix Kearney

Felix Kearney was born in 1889 in Magherenny, near Drumquin.

Flann O Brien

Born in the Bowling Green, Strabane in 1911, the novelist Brian O’Nolan, wrote fiction as “Flann O’Brien” and contributed a controversial weekly column, ‘Cruiskeen Lawn’, to the Irish Times, under the pseudonym ‘Myles Na Gopaleen’, leading to Benedict Kiely describing him as ‘the three headed man’.

Jimmy Kennedy

Jimmy Kennedy was a prolific song writer during the 1930’s and 1940’s.

John McCann

John McCann was born in Castledawson, Northern Ireland on 9 July 1994.

Seamus Heaney

1939 – Seamus Heaney was born on 13th April at Mossbawn, near Castledawson in County Derry, Northern Ireland.

W F Marshall

‘The Bard of Tyrone’ Rev William Forbes Marshall, BA, LLB, DD, MRIA, was born in Drumragh, Omagh on 8th May 1888.