irish writer oliver saint john gogarty

OLIVER ST. JOHN GOGARTY (1878 - 1957)


Oliver St. John Gogarty was born 17th August 1878 at Rutland Square, Dublin. He was educated at Clongowes Wood and Trinity College Dublin graduating in medicine in 1907. He later specialised as a nose and throat surgeon.

He lived at the Martello Tower in Sandycove for a short time where James joyce was a guest for a time. Gogarty later featured in Ulysses where he is described as the "stately plump Buck Mulligan".

During the Civil War, Gogarty's sympathies with the Free State led to his capture by Republicans. He escaped by swimming the Liffey and later presented two swans to the river in gratitude.

He was a Senator of the Irish Free State from 1922 - 1936.
Gogarty being a keen sportsman, was involved in the founding of the Irish Aero Club.
"As I walked Sackville Street", a book of reminiscences was published in 1937 which caused a famous libel action. He moved to London but eventually settled in America where he continued to write further volumes of reminiscences and novels. His autobiography "It Isn't This Time of Year At All" was published in 1954.

He died in New York on 22nd September 1957.