A special celebration in Roscommon to mark the anniversary of the birth of songwriter Percy French.
Percy French is perhaps one Ireland’s best known songwriters. During his lifetime he wrote the words and music to hundreds of songs, showing the world the warmth and humour of Ireland.
He was born on 1 May 1854 and to mark the 130th anniversary of his birth, the County Roscommon Historical and Archaeological staged a special commemoration on the site of his ancestral home at Clooneyquinn, near Elphin.
The house is gone but he hasn’t been forgotten and now a memorial is being built on the site in his honour.
Ettie and Joan French, the daughters of the songwriter, came from England for the ceremony although the memorial and a lifesize bust of their father are not fully completed. There will be a proper unveiling of both in August 1984.
Percy French’s elder daughter Ettie recalls her father’s sense of humour and tells the tale of how he came up with the tune for ‘Darling Girl from Clare’. Joan continues the story with an explanation of how her father used to make smoke pictures.
Reverend Francis Beirne hopes the memorial will create an awareness of the life and works of Percy French, particularly among younger people.
A permanent exhibition of Percy French’s life and work is to be on display in a disused church in Strokestown and a local hotel has a mural depicting his life and songs.
Harry Lynch of the Regional Tourism Board expects a new Percy French brochure to be ready for the next influx of visitors to the area.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 May 1984. The reporter is Alisdair Jackson.
