I was one of the many kids in Northern Ireland who grew up in the countryside and had an idyllic childhood well away from the Troubles.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
The people of Northern Ireland have sorted out my whole life.
I had quite a scattered childhood. I was Irish in London, because I had my secondary school education there. I never really fitted anywhere. I didn't feel it was a negative thing, and I was never made to feel different - I just knew I was.
I've always been fascinated with Ireland, especially Northern Ireland, having lived in London in the '80s when there was an Irish republican bombing campaign there.
I was born and brought up near a village in Nottinghamshire and in my childhood enjoyed the freedom of the rather isolated country life. After the First World War, my father had bought a small farm, which became a marvelous playground for his five children.
I had a very happy childhood, which is unsuitable if you're going to be an Irish writer.
I was born in Northern Ireland in 1951. I lived most of my life there until 1986 or 1987.
Northern Ireland has treated me well, you know?
I grew up in the countryside in the middle of nowhere in England and got out as soon as I could!
I had a very peripatetic childhood, so I bounced around. Lived in Ethiopia until I was, like, three or four and then lived between Ireland and London.
I grew up in a little village in the west of Ireland.