Dr Éibhear Walshe, the Director of Creative Writing and a senior lecturer in the School of English at University College Cork (UCC), has passed away at the age of 61. The “treasured colleague” had worked at UCC for 30 years prior to his passing on Sunday, July 28, and was the author of three novels, as well as 11 edited volumes, three monographs, a memoir, and a plethora of academic essays. 

While Walshe was a heavy hitter in the Irish literary scene for his writings on modern Irish fiction and drama and the interconnections between politics, literature, sexuality, and Irish identity, his work took a turn following the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland in 1993. Since then, Walshe was a trailblazer for gay and lesbian literary studies, particularly regarding Irish literature and culture. 

Amongst his publications focusing on queer identity is his 2011 book Oscar’s Shadow: Wilde, Homosexuality and Modern Ireland. The publication was the first study of the formation of the idea of homosexuality in Ireland in the 20th century, drawing inspiration from the trial of queer Irish writer, Oscar Wilde, who was sentenced to two years of hard labour at Reading Gaol after being found guilty of acts of ‘gross indecency’ with another man. 

In 1997, Walshe similarly edited a collection of essays titled Sex, Nation and Dissent in Irish Writing, which was the first work to situate gay and lesbian perspectives in Irish critical studies. 

Also a novelist, Walshe incorporated queer identities and themes into his own creative writing. The Trumpet Shall Sound, published in 2019, sees Walshe reimagining the personal life of Messiah composer, George Handel. Walshe portrays the famous composer as homosexual, even exploring Handel’s first, albeit fictitious, relationship with another man. 

In the days following his passing, tributes for Walshe have poured in from all over the country as former colleagues, students, and fans have fondly remembered the Waterford native. 

It is with great sadness that we must announce the untimely passing of our colleague and friend Dr Éibhear Walshe. His smile, good humour & vision for Creative Writing in UCC have impacted generations of students. Encouraging and supportive, Éibhear always had time to listen. pic.twitter.com/Ed2EojhQb0

— English UCC (@EnglishUCC) July 29, 2024

UCC president, Prof John O’Halloran, described Walshe as a “brilliantly creative colleague”.

“His popularity among both staff and students at UCC is a testament to his generosity of spirit and kindness,” O’Halloran added. “I wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his mother Celine, brothers Eoin and Shéamus, sisters Rio and Oonagh, and his extended family.”

Dr Orla Murphy, head of the UCC School of English and Digital Humanities, similarly remembered her colleague, writing: “Éibhear’s smile, his good humour, his collegiality, his vision and ambition to cultivate and celebrate creative writing here at UCC has impacted generations of writers”. 

Prof Cathal O’Connell, a UCC lecturer in the School of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences, claimed that “as a gifted author of fiction, memoir, and biography (Walshe) was also held in the highest esteem by his peers in Ireland and internationally.” 

Dr Éibhear Walshe will similarly be remembered for his considerable contribution to queer literary studies in Ireland, with members of UCC’s LGBT Staff Network paying tribute to the late writer on social media. 

“His teaching, researching and writing commemorated and celebrated the place of LGBT+ people in Ireland’s history and culture and gave a voice to LGBT+ people and their allies who were marginalised and silenced in the past,” wrote Ciara Murphy and Diarmuid Scully, co-chairs of the UCC LGBT Staff Network. 

Our statement on the death of our colleague and friend, Dr. Éibhear Walshe pic.twitter.com/dBxSPfYJLx

— UCC LGBT+ (@UCC_LGBTQ_STAFF) July 29, 2024