Tim Pat Coogan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Coogan in 2015 | |
| Born | Timothy Patrick Coogan 22 April 1935 Monkstown, County Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation(s) | Editor, broadcaster, journalist, writer |
| Notable credit | Editor of The Irish Press (1968–1987) |
| Spouse | Cherry Coogan (marriage dissolved) |
| Children | 6 (five daughters, one son) |
Timothy Patrick "Tim Pat" Coogan (born 22 April 1935) is an Irish writer, broadcaster and newspaper columnist. He served as editor of The Irish Press newspaper from 1968-87. He has been best-known for such books as The IRA, Ireland Since the Rising, On the Blanket, and biographies of Michael Collins and Éamon de Valera.[1][2] His biography of de Valera proved controversial, taking issue with the former Irish president's reputation and achievements, in favour of those of Collins, whom he regards as indispensable to the creation of the new State.[citation needed]
His particular focus has been Ireland's nationalist/independence movement in the 20th century, a period of unprecedented political upheaval.[3][4] He has blamed the Troubles in Northern Ireland on "Paisleyism".[3][5]
Coogan was born in Monkstown, County Dublin in 1935,[citation needed] the first of three children born to Beatrice (née Toal) and Ned Coogan. Ned (sometimes referred to as "Eamonn Ó Cuagain"), a native of Kilkenny, was an Irish Republican Army volunteer during the War of Independence and later served as the first Deputy Commissioner of the newly established Garda Síochána, then a Fine Gael TD for the Kilkenny constituency.[citation needed] Beatrice Toal, the daughter of a policeman, was a Dublin socialite who was crowned Dublin's Civic Queen of Beauty in 1927. She wrote for the Evening Herald and took part in various productions in the Abbey Theatre and Radio Éireann.[citation needed] Coogan spent many summer holidays in the town of Castlecomer in County Kilkenny, his father's home town.[citation needed]
A former student of the Irish Christian Brothers in Dún Laoghaire and Belvedere College in Dublin, he spent most of his secondary studies in Blackrock College in Dublin.[citation needed]
In 2000, Irish writer and editor Ruth Dudley Edwards was awarded £25,000 damages and a public apology by the High Court in London against Coogan for factual errors in references to her in his book Wherever Green is Worn: the Story of the Irish Diaspora.[6]
When Taoiseach Enda Kenny caused confusion following a speech at Béal na Bláth by incorrectly claiming Michael Collins had brought Lenin to Ireland, Coogan commented: "Those were the days when bishops were bishops and Lenin was a communist. How would that [Collins bringing Lenin to Ireland] have gone down with the churchyard collections?"[7]
In November 2012, for reasons that are uncertain, the United States embassy in Dublin refused to grant Coogan a visa to visit the U.S.[why?] As a result a planned book tour for his latest book (The Famine Plot, England's role in Ireland's Greatest Tragedy) was cancelled. After representations to then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by United States Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Congressman Peter T. King (R-NY), Coogan received his visa.[8]
Coogan has been criticised by Irish historians Liam Kennedy, Diarmaid Ferriter and Cormac Ó Gráda, among others, for a supposed lack of thoroughness in his research and bias:
