Macken, Walter (1915–1967)

Irish actor, director, playwright, and historical novelist. Macken was born in Galway and at 17 joined An Taibhdhearc, the Gaelic League Theatre, which he continued to support as an actor, director, and playwright long after he moved on to the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, where his own play Mungo's Mansion had a long run in 1946. I Am Alone (1949), a novel about an Irishman's experiences in London, England, was banned in Ireland, but a series of historical novels were long-standing successes with the Irish public. These include Seek the Fair Land (1959), on the Cromwellian War in Ireland, The Silent People (1962) on the Irish famine, and The Scorching Wind (1964), on the Irish Troubles 1916–22.