Michael Donaghy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael Donaghy (May 24, 1954 – September 16, 2004) was a poet and musician, born in New York. Donaghy was born into an Irish family and grew up in the Bronx.

He studied at Fordham University and the University of Chicago, where he edited the Chicago Review and founded the acclaimed Irish music ensemble Samradh Music. In 1985, he moved to London to join his partner and fellow musician, Maddy Paxman, whom he married in 2003; their son, Ruairi, was born in 1996.

Rapidly establishing himself on the poetry scene, he published his first full collection, Shibboleth, in 1988. Errata followed in 1993, and Conjure in 2000. Recognition came in the form of the Geoffrey Faber and Cholmondeley awards and the Whitbread and Forward prizes, among others.

He also continued to play in various Irish music groups, as well as the early line-up of Lammas, the jazz/traditional crossover band led by Tim Garland and poet Don Paterson.

[edit] References

• Seán O'Brien, The Guardian Obituary Page, September 24, 2004

[edit] External links

• Michael Donaghy at the Literary Encyclopedia