TRE - Comhaltas Archive

9 COMHALTASThe GreatFurseyCaoimhghin () BrolchainMervyn Wall, who died in 1997 aged89, was the last of that generation ofgreatly gifted Irish writers, whichincluded Flann O 'Brien, Francis McManus and Se an 6 Faolain. AnotherCivil Servant, he scribbled away in hisspare time and produced three Abbyplays and several novels - but his wifeFanny Feehan (who died in 1996)regarded him as being slothful andhad to bully him into finishingwhatever work he was engaged on ata particular time. She would abandonhim in remote spots until he ranghome t announce the completion ofanother chapter.Born Eugene Welpy in Dublin to awell to do family, he was educated atUCD and in Bonn. He spent 14 yearsas a depressed Civil Servant until hewas rescued by MacManus, thendirector of features at Radi6 Eireannand spent nine happy years beforebecoming secretary to 6 Faolain'sdirector at the fledgling Arts Council.During this time he master-mindedthe tax exemption scheme whichmade the reputation of CharlesHaughey, Minister of Finance in 1969.It is said thatthough he wasbrave on behalf ofthe Arts, he wasnevertheless avery cautiouscharacter, and avoided taking partin council discussions - preferring toremain the 'power behind the throne'.'I knew that in the event of trouble,the Taoiseach would sack thechairman, he would sack the secretary.'If there is one book, which never failsto delight on reading and re-readingit, is his The Complete Fursey(Wolfhound Press, Dublin, Re-pub1985) - which in itself is acombination of two earlier works TheUnfortunate Fursey (1946) and TheReturn of Fursey (1948). I canpromise you that this is probably themost enjoyable piece of Irish writingthat you are likely to come across. I'mwell aware that this is a 'valuejudgement' and as such is there to beshot at, but if you can track it down(maybe your library can help), I haveno fear but that you will heartilyagree with me.What we are presented with is thestory of a simple-minded monk, thelovable Fursey, in the monasticsettlement founded by St Killian atClonmacnoise. For centuries, theevident sanctity of the place had keptthe hordes of hell at bay, but at last FrKillian who had charge of themonastery brewery became aware ofa hideous demon, sitting on the fence,'and it chewing and eating red hotcoals and other dangerous matterswith its teeth.' It is thecommencement of an invasion whichrapidly leads to Fursey's cell becomingthe refuge of the devil and his legionswho commence plaguing the monkswith an infestation of infernal fleas ...Poor Fursey is driven forth by hisfrantic holy brethren to wander thecountry.26