Patrick McCabe is an Irish author known for his dark and often macabre style, blending gothic and comedic elements in his writing. Born on March 27, 1955, in Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland, McCabe came to prominence in the 1990s, particularly with his novel "The Butcher Boy," which won the Irish Times Irish Literature Prize for Fiction and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1992. His work often explores themes of alienation, small-town life, and the idiosyncrasies of Irish society. Another celebrated work by McCabe is "Breakfast on Pluto," which was also shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1998. His novels are noted for their unique voice and inventive use of language, with a particular flair for capturing the vernacular of rural Ireland.