Brendan behan: the man, the myth, the genius féile zozimus - Talk:Brendan Behan - Wikipedia

The immigration officer shook my hand and his hard face softened. 'Cead mile failte romhat abhaile.' (A hundred thousand welcomes home to you.) I could not answer. There are no words and it would be impertinence to try. I walked down the gangway. I was free.

First published after Brendan Behan's tragic death, Confessions of an Irish Rebel picks up where Borstal Boy left off. Not only is it the last instalment of a unique and unorthodox autobiography, but of a unique and unorthodox life that was as touched with genius as it was with doom.

'I have him bitched, balloxed and bewildered, for there's a system and a science in taking the piss out of a screw and I'm a well-trained man at it.'

The immigration officer shook my hand and his hard face softened. 'Cead mile failte romhat abhaile.' (A hundred thousand welcomes home to you.) I could not answer. There are no words and it would be impertinence to try. I walked down the gangway. I was free.

First published after Brendan Behan's tragic death, Confessions of an Irish Rebel picks up where Borstal Boy left off. Not only is it the last instalment of a unique and unorthodox autobiography, but of a unique and unorthodox life that was as touched with genius as it was with doom.

'I have him bitched, balloxed and bewildered, for there's a system and a science in taking the piss out of a screw and I'm a well-trained man at it.'

Brendan Francis Aidan Behan [1] (christened Francis Behan ) [2] ( / ˈ b iː ə n / BEE -ən ; Irish : Breandán Ó Beacháin ; 9 February 1923 – 20 March 1964) was an Irish Republican, poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright who wrote in both English and Irish. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Irish writers and poets of all time. [3]

Behan eventually died on 20 March 1964 at 41 years of age, when he collapsed at the Harbour Lights bar in Dublin. He was given a full IRA guard of honour, which escorted his coffin. It was described by several newspapers as the biggest Irish funeral of all time after Michael Collins and Charles Stewart Parnell . [6]

Behan's uncle Peadar Kearney wrote the Irish national anthem " The Soldier's Song ". [7] His brother, Dominic Behan , was also a renowned songwriter best known for the song "The Patriot Game"; [8] another sibling, Brian Behan , was a prominent radical political activist and public speaker, actor, author, and playwright. [9] [10] [11] Following Brendan's death, his widow had a child with Cathal Goulding called Paudge Behan ; the two men were described as "good friends". [12]