RSS
Entertainment


Home Page > Entertainment > A real Irish send-off for Frank McCourt

Blogs


comment on article Make a comment
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail

A real Irish send-off for Frank McCourt

Hospice rang to sound of Irish songs and readings as Frank breathed his last

By
ANTOINETTE KELLY,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 12:46 PM
Updated Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 12:09 PM

 

Bookmark and Share

Celebrated Irish author Frank McCourt
Celebrated Irish author Frank McCourt

• VIDEO / FRANK'S FIRST MOVIE ROLE /CLICK HERE

• PHOTO GALLERY / FRANK IN PICTURES / CLICK HERE

• NIALL O'DOWD / THE FRANK I KNEW / CLICK HERE

 • VIDEO / NEW YORK STATE WRITER'S INSTITUTE  / CLICK HERE

 • ARCHIVE / 1997 INTERVIEW / CLICK HERE

 Family and friends of Frank McCourt gathered at his bedside while he was dying to give him a traditional Irish send-off, IrishCentral has learned.

"It was a wonderful Irish farewell, full of love, humor and sadness; just like Frank," said said one attendee.

There wasn't a dry eye in the house as Irish songs were sung, poetry recited and McCourt's own works and quirks were recalled.

Another visitor in the Pulitzer Prize-winning author's final days told IrishCentral that one song was particularly poignant, "Limerick, You're a Lady."

The song, of course, refers to McCourt's hometown, and he was known to sing it when family and friends gathered.

He even sang it the famous night in Limerick in 1997 after he was awarded an honorary degree at the University of Limerick, where he was installed as a writer-in-residence. Its sentimental lyrics were dear to the world-famous author's heart:

Limerick, you're a lady
Your Shannon waters tears of joy that flow
The beauty that surrounds you
I'll take it with me love where e'er I go.

While waking in the arms of distant waters
A new day finds me far away from home
And Limerick you're my lady
The one true love that I have ever known.

As children you and I spent endless days of fun
In winter's snow or summer's golden sun
We fished in silver streams, the fabric of my dreams
Was fashioned by your loveliness and so I have to say.

Limerick you're a lady
Your Shannon waters tears of joy that flow
The beauty that surrounds you
I'll take it with me love where e'er I go.

The scene took place at the Manhattan Hospice not far from his New York city residence last Sunday as McCourt breathed his last.

Also there during his last hours was his loving wife Ellen, who had not left his side for several weeks once the severity of his illness became apparent.

1 2 Next page >
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail


Be the first to make a comment.

It may take several minutes for your comment to appear.


Click to learn more from DiscoverIreland.com.


Connect to IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or sign-in directly

Welcome to IrishCentral!
Please provide the following information in order to create your account

Username:
E-Mail Address:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy


Welcome to IrishCentral!
All we need is the following information and you will be part of the #1 Irish community in the US

E-Mail Address:
First select a unique username:
Username:
Now choose a password:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Thank you!

Just one more step and you will be part of the largest Irish community in America! Tell us a little more about you to start enjoying all the features of IrishCentral.

Additional Information:

First Name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Zip:
Gender: Male  Female 
Country:
Degree of Irishness:
Household Income:
Level of Education:

Subscribe to our newsletters:

The Best of IrishCentral - Daily Newsletter
Special Offers from our sponsors

or
Skip

You can edit your information at any time, just go to "my account" when you're logged in.

Log into IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or sign-in directly

E-Mail:
Password:
 Remember me Forgot my password