SC Irish Arts Weekend 2009 Instructor
Finnbarr Dunphy - Columbia, SC / Dublin, Ireland
Writer, educator, world traveller... Finnbarr is an Irishman, a native of Dublin, who, like the famous wandering Irish monks (peregrinati) of the Middle Ages, has lived, learned, and taught on four continents for over 40 years.
In his native land, he was one of those rare young men who were both gifted athletes and top-drawer scholars. In his early twenties, those talents pulled him out of Ireland and onto his own life's journey into the broad world and toward a global knowledge. He went first to Africa, where he taught and coached in international schools, later becoming headmaster of one of the best boarding schools on that continent. Next, he found himself on the Indian sub-continent, working both as a teacher and as a part of the diplomatic community. Before coming to North America, he spent several years in Argentina. For this time, he was primarily involved in the Foreign Service.
Finnbarr has published a book, "The Harp that Once.." - "a coming of age novel, but with a haunting difference." It is a charming work of historical fiction, set in Ireland in the late 50's. In addition to his work in the world of fiction, Finnbarr is also working on a project called Teach Teanga (House of Languages) that provides reading and speaking foundations in several different tongues.
He now divides his time between Ireland and South Carolina where he lives with his wife, Elisa, a gifted musician & teacher in her own right, their two cats, and their African Grey parrot, Mumba.