Later Career
MacGill Family Photo
Photograph of Patrick MacGill with his family. The photograph includes Patrick MacGill and his wife, Margaret Gibbons, in the foreground, holding their twin baby daughters Patricia and Chriss Ursula. In the background, behind Patrick MacGill, stands Mrs A.Gibbons, mother of Margaret, and behind Margaret stands her sister, Dolly Gibbons.
By permission of Donegal County Museum.MacGill Family Photo
By permission of Donegal County Museum.
By permission of Donegal County Museum.
MacGill Family Photo
Photograph of Patrick MacGill with his family. The photograph includes Patrick MacGill and his wife, Margaret Gibbons, in the foreground, holding their twin baby daughters Patricia and Chriss Ursula. In the background, behind Patrick MacGill, stands Mrs A.Gibbons, mother of Margaret, and behind Margaret stands her sister, Dolly Gibbons.
By permission of Donegal County Museum.In 1930 Patrick and his family, which now included three daughters, moved to the United States. Patrick wrote plays for Broadway and two more novels, Tulliver's Mill and The Glen of Carra, in 1934. The Great Depression was in full swing at this time. Patrick decided to move his family to California, where he hoped to get involved in writing for films.
His last novel, published in 1937, was Helen Spenser. Ill health then led to many years of silence as an author, and in 1963 Patrick MacGill died.
MacGill's personality excited as much interest as his writing. The public was fascinated as to how a poor Irish labourer educated himself and left behind the life of navvy to become a successful writer.