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20 historyexaminer

2019 Percy French

4th,
December By Jim McKeon stables, grounds, social engagements

ercy French was a genius. A and musical gatherings within the
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man before his time; to me house must have helped to develop
EXAMINER greats in musical history. From must have had some influence in the
his personality, his time spent away
Phe is up there with all the
honing of his talents.
an early age I loved his songs.
The humor and clever lyrics
As a very young boy he performed
IRISH appealed to me and I could sing regularly in the area. In his early
every one of them from ‘Come
years he was educated at Foyle
back Paddy Reilly’ and the College and later he was accepted at
‘Mountains of Mourne’ to ‘Phil Trinity College in Dublin where he
the fluter’ and ‘Are ye right there studied for a BA in civil engineering.
Michael?’ He was 23 years old when he wrote,
I also liked him as a person. He ‘Abdulla Bulbul Ameer.’
took life with a grain of salt and this He wrote that song for a concert
was especially evident in his songs, and sold it to a publisher for five
parodies and poems. This humorous pounds. The publisher never credited
streak of mischief showed when he French with authorship. Despite its
once declared: “I was born a boy and later popularity Percy never received
have remained one since friends and any royalties.
relatives often urge me to grow up Although he continued to write
and take an interest in politics, many songs he did not publish anoth-
whiskey, race meetings, foreign secu- er song for the next eleven years. At
rities, poor rates, options and other that time he considered that painting
things that men talk about, but no – I was his true talent.
am still the small boy messing about He eventually graduated from
with a paint-box, or amusing myself Trinity as an engineer and worked for Bronze figure of Percy French in the main square of Ballyjamesduff (Wikipedia/Alanryanhall)
with a pencil and paper, while fogies seven years in Cavan as an inspector write most of his best known songs. He then toured all over the UK,
of forty determine the Kaiser’s next of drains. When he was finally award- After one of his most popular America, Canada and the West
move.” ed his BA he said it was because the songs, ‘Are ye right there Michael?’ Indies. He was overworked yet never
Although best known for his song- Trinity board of directors felt if he he was sued and taken to court refused or cancelled a performance.
writing it is not generally known that stayed any longer he’d qualify for a because the song mocked the West He did his last show in Glasgow on
he was a more than accomplished pension. Clare railway. It seems he turned up Friday 16 January, 1920 during a tour
artist, especially water colors. He had He confided in a friend that he still late for his court appearance. His of Scotland. On his return to Ireland
ten solo exhibitions. One was opened holds the record as the student who excuse was that the train was late. He he wasn’t feeling well and decided to
by Peter Ustinov. In 2005 the presti- took the longest time to get the civil was found not guilty. break his journey and stay with his
gious auctioneer, White’s, sold one of engineering degree because taking up He married and, sadly, his young cousin in Formby, Lancashire.
his paintings for a then record fee of the banjo, lawn tennis and water wife and baby died in childbirth. This A few days later, Tuesday, 24
£44,000. color painting instead of chemistry, hurt him deeply and influenced his January, 1920 he fell ill and William
William Percy French first saw the geology and the theory of strains poem ‘Gortnamona.’ Percy French passed away with pneu-
light of day on Monday 1 May, 1854. must have retarded his progress a Still a little restless he took to the monia and heart failure at 65 years
He was one of nine children. His good deal. theatre and performed the length and old.
father, an Anglo Irish landlord, lived He worked for a while for the breath of Ireland. He once did 28 con- He was buried at St Lukes Parish
in Cloonyquin House just outside the Midlands Railway Company and trav- certs in 28 different venues in one Church. It was said that he was a
village of Tulsk in County elled all over the countryside. It was month. He was hugely popular and truly great song writer but this only
Roscommon. through travelling and meeting the invited to appear for the Prince of scratches the surface of his genius.
While life in the big house with country people that inspired him to Wales and guests. His like will never be seen again. C

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