TRIBUTES were paid to schoolteacher-turned-Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt, who has died, aged 78.
The renowned Irish-American writer earned worldwide fame and fortune in 1997, at the age of 66, after completing his memoirs.
The best-selling Angela’s Ashes detailed his early life in New York, the return aged six to hellish poverty and a dysfunctional childhood in Limerick, Ireland, before becoming the family breadwinner at 11.
Irish Arts Minster Martin Cullen described the story as inspirational.
“As a teacher in New York he instilled and encouraged a love of literature and creative writing in his students and as a writer himself, he was a master storyteller,” the minister said.
“He overcame adversity and misfortune at a young age to find his place in the world.”
