"A heart needs a haven to keep on beating."

- J.P. Donleavy
Photo courtesy The J.P. Donleavy Archives.

Growing Up

J.P. Donleavy's parents, Patrick (fireman and poet) and Margaret both immigrated to the US from Ireland and settled in New York. JPD's sister, Rita (a prominent educator), is the eldest of three children. Brother, Thomas (T.J., a sculptor and painter), is the youngest.

Children of His Own

J.P. Donleavy has been married twice and divorced twice. He has two children by his first marriage to Valerie Heron - Philip and Karen and has two children by his second marriage to Mary Wilson-Price (now re-married to Finn Guinness) - Rebecca and Rory.

Philip (Donleavy) is part of Donleavy-Mitchell Productions (along with partner Bob Mitchell). Together they are currently involved in pre-production plans that include a feature film version of The Ginger Man.

Karen (Donleavy) is an accomplished ceramics artist and has done two joint art exhibitions with her father, one at Anna-Mei Chadwick Gallery London, March 5-16. 1991, the other at the National Arts Club, New York May 10 - 23, 2007. Visit Karen's site for more background.

Rebecca is the former fashion editor for Absolute magazine and is now freelancing at W.

Rory is the front man for the band iLash. The group's site is coming soon and will be linked here. Their MySpace page offers information on gigs and a cool blog. The band has a recording available at musicshere.com.

Parents' wedding picture. Photo courtesy, the J.P. Donleavy Archives.
Sister Rita; mother, Margaret. Photo courtesy, the J.P. Donleavy Archives.
Brother T.J.
JPD with Philip at the shore, Isle of Man. Photo courtesy The J.P. Donleavy Archives.
Karen with friend. Photo courtesy The J.P. Donleavy Archives.
Wedding picture: Valerie and JPD. Photo courtesy, the J.P. Donleavy Archives.
JPD & Valerie in Kilcoole. Photo courtesy The J.P. Donleavy Archives.
Rory at his birthday party.
Philip at the party celebrating the 50th anniversary of the publication of The Ginger Man. Photo by Maike Schulz.
Rebecca out on the town.
Rory, frontman for his band, iLash.
Karen at opening banquet for National Arts Club exhibition,
May, 2007. Photo by Charles Ruppmann.
Karen, Woodlawn Cemetery, the Bronx. Photo by Rachel Shea.
Rebecca (far left)
JPD, Rebecca, Mary & Rory at Levington Park. Photo courtesy The J.P. Donleavy Archives.
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