Well known Dublin author Lee Dunne dies aged 86

Renowned Dublin author and playwright Lee Dunne has died at the age of 86.

His best known book, Goodbye to the Hill, was published in 1965 and sold over a million copies.

Hailed as an Irish classic, Goodbye to the Hill is narrated by young character Paddy Maguire, who shares the story of his life growing into young adulthood in a Dublin slum of the late 1930s and 40s Ireland.

Considered a Dublin version of The Catcher in the Rye, Goodbye to the Hill tells the story of a young man desperate to escape the confines of poverty and stifling mores, yet is an uplifting story, peppered with picaresque incidents, colourful language, and captures the delightful humour that transcends the hard times of Dublin’s inner city life

Dunne was described as the “most banned author in Ireland”, with one of his novels being the last pieces of literature to be banned, in 1976.

He also wrote more than 2,000 radio scripts and plays for RTÉ, including Harbour Hotel.

Lee Dunne is survived by his wife Maura and his children from his first marriage, Sarah, Peter and Jonathan.