His father, a university professor, would never let him read comic
books, but read them himself so he knew what children would be
interested in.
Is the award-winning author of a number of acclaimed novels and
collections of stories. Nearly all his stories are set in Ireland and
most deal with the subjects of children, family relationships and
childhood memories.
Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1992.
He has five children: Musician Anna Jordan and Sarah Jordan from his marriage to solicitor Vivienne Shields; Dashiel Jordan and Daniel Jordan from his current marriage to Brenda Rawn and Ben a child from a brief relationship with
architect Mary Donohoe.
When he was younger, he played classical guitar, piano, and saxophone.
Good friends and fellow Dubliners Bono and Ali Hewson named their first daughter, Jordan Hewson, who was born in 1989, after him.
He attended St. Paul's School in Clontarf, Dublin
For writing Night in Tunisia he won The Guardian Fiction Prize.