The Barrytown Trilogy

RODDY DOYLE

RODDY DOYLE ranks amongst the most popular of recent local authors having four of his works in Ireland's Top 50 bestsellers.

Born in 1958 a few miles out of Dublin, Roddy Doyle graduated from the University College Dublin. Roddy Doyle then committed to over a decade of working at a local school as a teacher priming the young in the subjects of English and Geography.

It was during this time Roddy Doyle was dabbling in authoring several plays, before he was to pen "The Commitments" which became a life changing event. Roddy Doyle went on to help establish a publishing house as a vehicle to get "The Commitments" into print. Thus the first of the "BARRYTOWN TRILOGY" became available. It didnt take long for a manuscript of this moderately successful work to attract the film industry and enlist the talents of the famous Alan Parker to turn "The Commitments" into a film of the same name. Roddy doyle was able to envision and wrote a further two sequels to "The Commitments".

These were "The Snapper" and "The Van" which were also turned into film. These three works are now collectively known as the "BARRYTOWN TRILOGY" and follow the lives of various members of the Barrytown Rabbitte family.

"The Van" was also shortlisted as a contender for the Booker prize. This was not the only work of his to be looked at for this prize. Later he wrote "Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha" which went on to become the best-selling Booker winner in the history of the prize.

"The BARRYTOWN TRILOGY" series of books is on Stuart Townsend's recommended reading list (which is why they are on this web site of course).

Stuart's recommended Reading:

author: "RODDY DOYLE"

title: "The Barrytown Trilogy" (or individually)

1. title: "The Commitments" author: "RODDY DOYLE"

2. title: "The Snapper" author: "RODDY DOYLE"

3. title: "The Van" author: "RODDY DOYLE"