Family and friends of the late Maeve Binchy gathered at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre on Thursday to remember the wit and wisdom of the much-loved author and to launch a new production of Minding Frankie - the first time her work has been brought to the national stage.
Guests including Gay Byrne and his wife Kathleen Watkins, Eamon Morrissey and his wife Anne, and novelists Carmel Harrington and Hazel Gaynor were among those who joined Maeve Binchy's widower, Gordon Snell, for an afternoon tea in honour of the author, who passed away aged 73 in July 2012.
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Alan Corr speaks to Maeve Binchy's widower Gordon Snell
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment at the Remembering Maeve event, Gordon Snell said that he hopes the new stage production of Maeve's 2010 novel Minding Frankie will keep her memory alive for her millions of fans around the world.
"I am only delighted that her work is still loved and enjoyed in all forms," he said.
"I couldn't be more pleased because people still read the books but to see it on the stage as well gives her a new kind of life, which I'm sure she'd be delighted with as well."
Minding Frankie, which was first published in 2010, tells the story of struggling alcoholic Noel who must raise Frankie, his child with one-night stand Stella, who is dying of cancer.
However, social worker Moira has different ideas and wants the child taken into custody, leaving Noel to prove that he can fulfil all the many roles and challenges of being a lone parent.
The book has been adapted for the stage by Shay Linehan and is directed by Peter Sheridan. The new production stars Steve Blount and Clare Barrett, who take on multiple roles to tell the story.
Gordon has watched the play grow from small beginnings with productions in Maeve's native Dalkey and The Viking in Clontarf and is looking forward to seeing it come to life on the Gaiety stage.
Ireland's youngest Maeve Binchy fan at yesterday #RememberingMaeve event for #MindingFrankie pic.twitter.com/ddvaCpgjVF
— The Gaiety Theatre (@gaiety_theatre) May 12, 2017
"I've always been an admirer of what Shay Linehan has done in adapting the book and bringing it to the stage," he said.
"It's quite an elaborate novel with a lot of characters in it and to be able to reduce it to two actors who brilliantly play several different characters, I'm delighted with it. It's very funny and it's very touching."
Minding Frankie runs at the Everyman in Cork from May 30 to June 3 and the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin from June 6 to 17.
Alan Corr @corralan
