Born in 1923, Brendan Behan was raised at 13 Russell Street in Dublin's north inner city. He became one of Ireland's best-known writers and talkers. Having joined the IRA at the age of sixteen, Behan served time in a borstal institution in England and in prison in Ireland. Released from prison as part of a general amnesty in 1946, Behan moved between Dublin, Kerry and Connemara and spent time in Paris, writing in both Irish and English. He wrote articles for 'The Irish Press' and two radio plays for Radio Éireann.
'The Quare Fellow', Behan's first play, was produced in 1954 in Dublin. He married Beatrice ffrench-Salkeld in 1955. In 1958, Behan's play in the Irish language 'An Giall' was performed at Dublin's Damer Theatre. Afterwards, 'The Hostage', Behan's English language adaptation of 'An Giall', met with great success internationally following Joan Littlewood's production in London in 1958. 'Borstal Boy', Behan's autobiographical novel, was published the same year and became an immediate best seller.
International success and financial reward were followed by an increase in Behan's drinking problems. Suffering from diabetes, compounded by years of heavy drinking, he died on 20 March 1964.The photograph accompanying this clip shows Brendan Behan leaving the High Court in 1961 and is reproduced here with the kind permission of http://www.irishphotoarchive.ie
Brendan Behan talks about growing up on Russell Street and the "three classes of houses" that existed there.
Production Year
1951
Contributor
Brendan Behan (Script)
BRENDAN BEHAN
Minding Bikes And Cars
Brendan Behan recalling All Ireland Final days and offering an opinion on the urban rural divide.
Production Year
1951
Contributor
Brendan Behan (Script)
BRENDAN BEHAN
Marrying Brendan Behan
Beatrice Behan recalls dating Brendan and their wedding day.
Production Year
1974
BRENDAN BEHAN
Moving Out
An extract from the play 'Moving Out' by Brendan Behan originally produced for Radio Éireann in 1952.
Production Year
1978
Contributor
Chris Hannigan (Neasa Ní Annracháin)
Jim Hannigan (Seamus Forde)
Noel Hannigan (Jim Reid)
Eileen Hannigan (Colette Proctor)
Tim Danaher (Producer)
BRENDAN BEHAN
Joan Littlewood Producing The Quare Fellow
Joan Littlewood recalls receiving a script for 'The Quare Fellow' in the post, Behan's first visit to her theatre in London, and how she and Behan became friends and collaborators.
Production Year
1974
Contributor
Anthony Cronin (Presenter)
BRENDAN BEHAN
Brendan Behan on Capital Punishment
An interview with Brendan Behan on the abolition of capital punishment.
Production Year
1964
Contributor
John Ross (Reporter)
BRENDAN BEHAN
Arthur Dreifuss Filming the Quare Fellow
On location of a film production of Brendan Behan's 'The Quare Fellow' director Arthur Dreifuss talks about the challenge of transforming the work for cinema.
Production Year
1963
Contributor
Jim Fitzgerald (Reporter)
BRENDAN BEHAN
"The Thing About 'The Hostage' Was That It Changed Every Night"
Joan Littlewood and journalist Donal Foley recall the run of 'The Hostage' in London. 'The Hostage' was played differently every night with topical references added and with Behan himself interjecting or joining in the performance at times.
Production Year
1974
Contributor
Anthony Cronin (Presenter)
BRENDAN BEHAN
New York Reaction To 'The Hostage'
Brendan Behan and Jim Downey talk about 'The Hostage' in New York. Downey describes the extraordinary reaction to an actor's benefit performance of the play.
Production Year
1964
Contributor
P.P. O'Reilly (Reporter)
BRENDAN BEHAN
The Private And Public Brendan Behan
On the publication of a biography of Brendan Behan, author Ulick O'Connor and broadcaster Andy O'Mahony discuss the writer.
Production Year
1970
Contributor
Andy O'Mahony (Presenter)
BRENDAN BEHAN
Battle With Alcohol
Beatrice Behan talks about promising herself that she would never change Brendan. For many years alcohol did not appear to be a problem for him. However, later in life, Behan appeared to use alcohol as a shield against life and that which upset him.
Production Year
1974
Contributor
Anthony Cronin (Presenter)
BRENDAN BEHAN
Tribute To Brendan
Michael Ó hAodha pays tribute to Brendan Behan on the death of the writer in 1964.
