University College Cork lost a pioneering figure in their School of English and Digital Humanities, Dr Éibhear Walshe, this week. The well-respected author and esteemed director of the university’s creative writing division, unfortunately, passed away. He was originally a native of Waterford, having pursued his education in Dublin before embarking on a successful literary career.
Walshe penned numerous influential and recognised works, including ‘Kate O’Brien: A Writing Life’ (2006), ‘Oscar’s Shadow: Wilde and Ireland'” (2012), and ‘A Different Story: the Writings of Colm Tóibín’ (2013). In addition, his personal memoir, ‘Cissie’s Abattoir’ (2009), aired on RTE’s Book on One. His novel, ‘The Diary of Mary Travers’ (2014), received shortlisting for the 2015 Kerry Group Novel of the Year Award and longlisting for the 2016 International Dublin Literary Award.
His additional accolades include being an associate editor, along with Catherine Marshall, for Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks (2016), a piece that the notable Fintan O’Toole edited, and which was shortlisted for the Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Award. Walshe’s second novel, ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound,’ was also longlisted for the 2021 International Dublin Literary Award. His final piece was ‘The Last Day at Bowen’s Court’ (2020).
An university representative recalled him as someone whose smile, humour, friendliness, vision, and ambition have left a significant mark on the generations of writers who have followed. He was recognised for his unwavering dedication to his students, always prepared to offer words of support and encouragement.
The writer was born to father John, who has since passed, and mother Celine, who survives him, along with his siblings Eoin, Sheamus, Ria and Oonagh, and an extended family and large network of friends. A requiem Mass to honour his memory will take place at the St Joseph and Benildus’ Church in Newtown, Waterford, on Friday, August 2nd at 10.30am. He will be laid to rest in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ballygunner.
Fellow poet Liz Quirke has composed a touching poem to honour her late colleague’s legacy.
“Pay Tribute With Emerald Blooms
In memoriam of Eibhear Walshe
On the second day of the 1892’s shortest month, Oscar Wilde suggested that his companions adorn themselves with emerald hued carnations for the premiere show of his masterpiece, ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan’. This emblem could serve to represent homosexuality, flamboyance, or it could even symbolize “absolute emptiness”.
Let’s assemble the relics previously discarded, take from our badges
the tokens we have available, the “elusive green specks,”
pieces of art, coated with fatal beauty, conserved
and never again to fade. Let Oscar’s folly be the floral tribute we make
in remembrance of the departure of another virtuous gentleman from our stage
into the beyond, one who educated us in the dialects
that allowed us to identify each other, the hidden meanings
of a knowing wink and nudges, whisker contact on a naked shoulder,
the elegant nuances of delicate lace and Greek echos in Greek,
the peril of immortalising our embraces of devotion in writing.
May this commemorative note be penned in shades of purple, dab your tears
with the hue-coded cloths from your pockets
as we note his sudden exit. Now, who will guide us,
since he has ascended to the celestial lounge
where Speranza and Kate impatiently expect him with a jug full of spirit
while in the hallway, we somberly march past his office door,
shut by him one final time, never to be reopened.”