“MODEST AND undemanding” Roddy Doyle has been praised for his donation of a collection of his original works to the National Library of Ireland.
Today, the multiple award-winning novelist, short story author, stage and screen writer, and children’s author is due to hand over a large volume of his literary papers.
Doyle was approached by the National Library about acquiring his works more than a year ago.
Gerard Lyne, keeper of manuscripts at the library, thanked him for his generosity when “gifts of this kind are few and far between”, given the awareness of the monetary value of such items. He added “manuscripts are an endangered species” in the new technological age and said Doyle was “extremely forthcoming, easy to deal with, modest and undemanding”.
He said he expected the collection to be available for public consumption by the end of the year, following cataloguing and any conservation that may be needed.
The Roddy Doyle archive consists of drafts and research material, ranging from his earliest published fiction, The Commitments, to his latest, Paula Spencer.
The material covers all of the author’s best-known work, including The Barrytown Trilogy, The Woman Who Walked Into Doors, A Star Called Henry and Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha.
A spokeswoman for the library said Doyle’s writings for stage and screen are also covered, with drafts of adaptations of his novels, as well as original pieces including Guess Who’s Coming for the Dinner and the screenplay for When Brendan Met Trudy.
“There are manuscripts, some with draft illustrations, of his three works for young children, as well as his novel for teenagers, Wilderness,” said the spokeswoman.
Director of the National Library Aongus Ó hAonghusa said the “remarkable donation will be an invaluable source for researchers and others interested in Irish writing”. Early and unpublished efforts are also covered, including Roddy Doyles first and unpublished novel Your Granny’s a Hunger Striker.
In addition, Doyle’s contributions to a student publication at University College Dublin, his first plays, a spoof of Wuthering Heights for schools, and two plays for the Passion Machine theatre company are part of the archive.