Painter, performer, novelist and journalist Molly Parkin talks about her work a love for Dublin and the Irish.
Born in Wales, Molly Parkin is in town for the Dublin Theatre Festival. She is performing a one-woman show about her own life at the Project Arts Centre from 23 September to 6 October 1985. She previously visited Dublin in 1979 when her second husband, the painter Patrick Hughes, had an exhibition at the Tom Caldwell Gallery.
On this visit to Dublin, Molly Parkin is devastated to find the Dandelion Market has closed down. She joins Thelma Mansfield for a stroll through the city centre, during which she describes growing up in the close-knit mining community of Pontycymmer in the Garw valley. Tom Jones and Richard Burton came from the same area.
Molly Parkin feels an affinity with the Irish. She appreciates the love of language, bookshops, pubs and the overwhelming Irish hospitality.
Everybody is a poet, aren't they here, like everybody in Wales is a singer.
Molly Parkin loves Dublin's Merchant's Arch for its Dickensian atmosphere, but the Ha'penny Bridge is her favourite part of the city, as it has a feeling of Paris.
Every decade, Molly Parkin likes to change careers. After 10 years of painting, she switched to journalism Her third 10 year cycle was as a novelist. Currently, she has eight and a half years left as a performer. When this time is up,
I will probably go back to my Welsh valley and simply paint.
This edition of 'Good Afternoon' was broadcast on 21 October 1985. The presenter is Thelma Mansfield.
On 3 October 1983, weekday afternoon programmes began on RTÉ1. The 'Good Afternoon' series of programming was hosted by Thelma Mansfield. It included a varied line-up of shows including drama, keep fit instruction, cookery and children's programmes.
