Frank O’Connor (1903–66) was an Irish writer of over 150 works, best known for his short stories and memoirs. The Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award is named in his honour. Born and raised in Cork, in 1918 O’Connor joined the First Brigade of the Irish Republican Army and served in combat during the Irish War of Independence. He was befriended by George William Russell (Æ), Yeats, Lennox Robinson, F. R. Higgins and Augusta Gregory.

From 1937–39, he was the managing director of the Abbey Theatre. In 1950, he accepted invitations to teach in the United States, including at Stanford University, where many of his short stories had been published in The New Yorker and won great acclaim.