McGuinness, Frank (1953– )

Irish dramatist, born in Buncrana, County Donegal, and educated at Carndonagh College and University College, Dublin. A versatile and sometimes controversial artist, he does not hesitate to engage difficult political questions in his theatre. He addressed Londonderry's Bloody Sunday (1972) in Carthaginians (1988), which includes a moving litany of victims' names, while his play Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Toward the Somme (1985) was a powerful portrait of the bravery and vulnerability of young Ulster Volunteers during World War I.

McGuinness's original drama has also tackled issues such as Alzheimer's disease and hostage-taking in the Middle East. Other works include translations of Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt (1988), Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera (1991), and Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters (1990).

McGuinness began his career teaching drama, linguistics, and Old and Middle English at University College, Maynooth, Dublin, and the National University of Ireland; he has also directed plays.