Tributes paid to Christopher Nolan (43)

TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to the author Christopher Nolan, who died yesterday at the age of 43. Nolan, who had cerebral palsy, won the Whitbread Book of the Year award in 1988 for his autobiography Under the Eye of the Clock.

His first book, a collection of poems, Damburst of Dreams, was published in 1981 and his novel, The Banyan Tree, was published in 1999. Nolan was a member of Aosdána, the affiliation of creative artists in Ireland. Born in Dublin, he lived in Sutton and Clontarf.

He died early yesterday morning at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, “following the ingestion of some food into his airways”, according to a statement issued on his family’s behalf. He is survived by his parents, Joseph and Bernadette, and his sister, Yvonne.

President Mary McAleese said she wished to convey her sympathies to Nolan’s family.

“Christopher Nolan was a gifted writer who attained deserved success and acclaim throughout the world for his work, his achievements all the more remarkable given his daily battle with cerebral palsy,” she said. “Christopher’s indomitable courage and determination will be remembered along with his literary gifts, inspiring many generations to come.”

Arts Council director Mary Cloake said: "Christopher Nolan was a remarkably talented writer and made history on numerous occasions throughout his life and career. Under the Eye of the Clock, the writer's biography and the winner of the Whitbread in 1988, displayed a brilliant command of language and voice and secured Nolan's place as a major literary writer when he was only 21."

Ms Cloake said Nolan had made an “invaluable contribution” to literary and cultural life and the Arts Council wanted to extend condolences to his family and friends.

Other honours earned by Nolan included the Medal of Excellence from the United Nations Society of Writers and an honorary doctorate of letters by Lancaster University.

Minister for the Arts Martin Cullen said he had learned of Nolan’s death with great sadness.

“We can draw inspiration from Christopher Nolan. With grace and courage and with the support of his family, he never gave up and he never gave in,” Mr Cullen said.

“His bold creativity has ensured a written legacy. His passing is a great loss and I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to his parents and sister at this sad time.”

Fine Gael’s arts spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell said Nolan was an inspiration to millions whose influence extended beyond his literary endeavours.

“Along with his family’s help, Christopher overcame the most extreme challenges to create some of the most wonderful literature, but his influence extends well beyond his poetry. To say that Christopher Nolan was an inspiration is an understatement of the highest order.”