Bill Long (writer)
Encyclopedia
Bill Long was an Irish
writer and broadcaster. He often featured on RTÉ Radio 1
. He was also Ireland's longest surviving heart transplant patient.
in 1932. He lived in a thatched house with his immediate and extended family, including his mother, father, brother and his mother's parents. His father was a grower of vegetables. Long was fond of reading as a child, devouring Henry David Thoreau
, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
and Zane Grey
, and encountering trouble at school while reading when he was supposed to be paying close attention to his religious studies. His time at a boarding school was funded by a family friend but he quit after two years. He attended a Congregation of Christian Brothers
school in Tramore but quit that as well, at the age of 14. He married a wife, Peg, and they had two sons and two daughters.
, before transferring to a newspaper in Waterford and then onward to the Irish Press, followed by the Irish Independent
and then The Irish Times
and even briefly with Raidió Teilifís Éireann
. He also worked in Revlon
's public relations department. Long resided in London
where Raymond Chandler
was a next-door neighbour. The two shared in common a youth spent in Waterford so bonded well. Long also went on trips to the United States
and South America
. He met figures such as Thomas Merton
and Katherine Anne Porter
, the latter of whom encouraged him to write in earnest. So he left his job at Revlon. While writing he made radio documentaries to generate funds to feed his family. Among these are Singing Ark (which won a Jacobs Award) and the Dylan Thomas
documentary Flowering Flood. He featured on RTÉ Radio 1
's Sunday Miscellany. Long was also a homiletics
lecturer at National University of Ireland, Maynooth
(NUIM).
Bright Light, White Water, published in 1993, documented the history of every Irish lighthouse and their keepers off the Irish coast, with Long living inside Howth
's Baily lighthouse while writing. Then he underwent a heart attack and a transplant followed in 1994. The transplant and recuperation received public interest - RTÉ filmed a documentary and Long's book, Change of Heart, described what had happened and advocated increased donor awareness. He was able to write and edit further books, completing his memoirs shortly before his death in 2010.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
writer and broadcaster. He often featured on RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926...
. He was also Ireland's longest surviving heart transplant patient.
Early life
Long was born a Catholic in WaterfordWaterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
in 1932. He lived in a thatched house with his immediate and extended family, including his mother, father, brother and his mother's parents. His father was a grower of vegetables. Long was fond of reading as a child, devouring Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau was an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist...
, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
and Zane Grey
Zane Grey
Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the Old West. Riders of the Purple Sage was his bestselling book. In addition to the success of his printed works, they later had second lives and continuing influence...
, and encountering trouble at school while reading when he was supposed to be paying close attention to his religious studies. His time at a boarding school was funded by a family friend but he quit after two years. He attended a Congregation of Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
school in Tramore but quit that as well, at the age of 14. He married a wife, Peg, and they had two sons and two daughters.
Career
After leaving school Long enlisted in the navy. He soon left that as well. He began reporting for the Cork ExaminerIrish Examiner
The Irish Examiner, formerly The Cork Examiner and then The Examiner, is an Irish national daily newspaper which primarily circulates in the Munster region surrounding its base in Cork, though it is available throughout the country...
, before transferring to a newspaper in Waterford and then onward to the Irish Press, followed by the Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
and then The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
and even briefly with Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
. He also worked in Revlon
Revlon
Revlon is an American cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company founded in 1932.-History:Revlon was founded in the midst of the Great Depression, 1932, by Charles Revson and his brother Joseph, along with a chemist, Charles Lachman, who contributed the "L" in the Revlon name...
's public relations department. Long resided in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where Raymond Chandler
Raymond Chandler
Raymond Thornton Chandler was an American novelist and screenwriter.In 1932, at age forty-five, Raymond Chandler decided to become a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive during the Depression. His first short story, "Blackmailers Don't Shoot", was published in...
was a next-door neighbour. The two shared in common a youth spent in Waterford so bonded well. Long also went on trips to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. He met figures such as Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton, O.C.S.O. was a 20th century Anglo-American Catholic writer and mystic. A Trappist monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani, Kentucky, he was a poet, social activist, and student of comparative religion...
and Katherine Anne Porter
Katherine Anne Porter
Katherine Anne Porter was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist, essayist, short story writer, novelist, and political activist. Her 1962 novel Ship of Fools was the best-selling novel in America that year, but her short stories received much more critical acclaim...
, the latter of whom encouraged him to write in earnest. So he left his job at Revlon. While writing he made radio documentaries to generate funds to feed his family. Among these are Singing Ark (which won a Jacobs Award) and the Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
documentary Flowering Flood. He featured on RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926...
's Sunday Miscellany. Long was also a homiletics
Homiletics
Homiletics , in theology the application of the general principles of rhetoric to the specific department of public preaching. The one who practices or studies homiletics is called a homilist....
lecturer at National University of Ireland, Maynooth
National University of Ireland, Maynooth
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth , was founded by the Universities Act, 1997 as a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. It is Ireland's second oldest university, having been formed from St Patrick's College, Maynooth, itself founded in 1795.The university is...
(NUIM).
Bright Light, White Water, published in 1993, documented the history of every Irish lighthouse and their keepers off the Irish coast, with Long living inside Howth
Howth
Howth is an area in Fingal County near Dublin city in Ireland. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development and wild hillside, all on the peninsula of Howth Head. The only...
's Baily lighthouse while writing. Then he underwent a heart attack and a transplant followed in 1994. The transplant and recuperation received public interest - RTÉ filmed a documentary and Long's book, Change of Heart, described what had happened and advocated increased donor awareness. He was able to write and edit further books, completing his memoirs shortly before his death in 2010.
External links
- Profile at New IslandNew island booksNew Island Books is an Irish publisher literary fiction, poetry, drama, biography, politics and social affairs.- Overview :New Island was founded as Raven Arts Press by Dermot Bolger in 1977....
- In One Life: The Bill Long Interview