Paul O'Neill (author)
Encyclopedia
Paul O'Neill, OC
(born 1928) is a writer, historian and former CBC
producer. He has written many books on the history of Newfoundland
. O'Neill was born in St. John's, Newfoundland
, and raised in Bay de Verde until the age of 8 when his family moved to St. John's.
Educated at St. Bonaventure's College in St. John's, National Academy of Theater Arts at New York
, O'Neill was an aspiring actor in the United States
and England
from 1949 to 1952. Having performed on stage with such stars as Eddie Albert, Larine Day and Cloris Leachman
in the USA and in England he acted in films with such well-known actors as Sir Richard Attenborough, Dame Thora Hird and Dame Elizabeth Taylor
. While he was in England
broadcaster Margot Davies had helped him in radio and encouraged him to write.
O'Neill began his career in radio
in 1953 with the CBC
in Newfoundland where he produced many radio shows, TV shows such as Reach for the Top
and was responsible for school
broadcasts for 25 years. He retired from the CBC in 1986. O'Neill wrote stage and radio plays
, articles, poems and stories
in addition to works of popular history
. He has served as president of the Newfoundland Writer's Guild, chairman of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council and president of the St. John's Folk Arts Council. In 1988, O'Neill was awarded an honorary LL.D by Memorial University of Newfoundland
and in 1990, he was appointed to the Order of Canada
. In 2004, O'Neill was awarded the Freedom of the City and in 2008, he received Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born 1928) is a writer, historian and former CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
producer. He has written many books on the history of Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
. O'Neill was born in St. John's, Newfoundland
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, and raised in Bay de Verde until the age of 8 when his family moved to St. John's.
Educated at St. Bonaventure's College in St. John's, National Academy of Theater Arts at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, O'Neill was an aspiring actor in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
from 1949 to 1952. Having performed on stage with such stars as Eddie Albert, Larine Day and Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman is an American actress of stage, film and television. She has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards—more than any other performer—and one Daytime Emmy Award...
in the USA and in England he acted in films with such well-known actors as Sir Richard Attenborough, Dame Thora Hird and Dame Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
. While he was in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
broadcaster Margot Davies had helped him in radio and encouraged him to write.
O'Neill began his career in radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
in 1953 with the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
in Newfoundland where he produced many radio shows, TV shows such as Reach for the Top
Reach for the Top
Reach for the Top is a Canadian game show in which teams of high school students participate in local, provincial and eventually national trivia tournaments...
and was responsible for school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
broadcasts for 25 years. He retired from the CBC in 1986. O'Neill wrote stage and radio plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
, articles, poems and stories
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
in addition to works of popular history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. He has served as president of the Newfoundland Writer's Guild, chairman of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council and president of the St. John's Folk Arts Council. In 1988, O'Neill was awarded an honorary LL.D by Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
and in 1990, he was appointed to the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 2004, O'Neill was awarded the Freedom of the City and in 2008, he received Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Instituted in 2001, when Lieutenant Governor Arthur Maxwell House granted Royal Assent to the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador Act, the order is administered by the...
.
Selected bibliography
- Spindrift and Morning Light an Anthology of Poems, Valhalla Press (1968)
- Everyman's Complete St. John's Guide, Valhalla Press (1974)
- Legends of a Lost Tribe folk tales of the Beothuck Indians of Newfoundland, McClellan and Stewart (1976)
- A Seaport Legacy the story of St. John's, Newfoundland, Press Porcepic (1976)
- Breakers stories from Newfoundland and Labrador, Breakwater Books (1982)
- The Seat Imperial Bay Bulls Past and Present, Harry Cuff Publications (1983)
- A Sound of Seagulls: the Poetry of Paul O'Neill, Creative Printers and Publishers Limited (1984)
- Upon this Rock the Story of the Roman Catholic Church in Newfoundland and Labrador, Breakwater Books (1984)
- The Oldest City The Story of St. John’s, Newfoundland, Boulder Publications (2003) ISBN 0-9730271-2-6
- No Need To Wear Rubbers Travel Diary of James O'Neil, Boulder Publications (2005) ISBN 0973850116
- How Dog Became a Friend Picture book illustrated by Cynthia Colosimo, Flanker Press (2007) ISBN 978-1-894463-93-5