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Frank McNally

Frank McNally

Frank McNally is a journalist and author. He has covered a wide range of subjects for The Irish Times, including politics, sport, and literature. A former National Media Awards winner for his Dail and tribunal sketches, he is now chief writer of the daily Irishman's Diary column.

‘After centuries of insulating vulnerable body parts, therefore, the bracket now does a similar job with words. Of course it’s now a rather discreet representation of its former self, at least on my, er, laptop. But I can’t speak for all male keyboard users.’ Photograph: Getty Images
English: the long, short and curly

An Irishman’s Diary gets to grips with the obscure origins of words

Brian O’Nolan aka Flann O’Brien and Myles Na Gcopaleeen
Flann shows his staying power in eternal city

Scholars gather in Rome for three-day conference on writings of Brian O’Nolan

‘There are no bikes in Waiting for Godot. But the play may have what Rathjen calls “the bicycle principle” of two connected wheels (or zeroes). In support of which theory, he mentions a late, unpublished prose work, called “The Way”, in which Beckett twice describes a repeating-loop path going up and down a hill.” Above, director Walter Asmus (left) and Conor Lovett as Lucky, on the set of Waiting for Godot, at the Gate. Photograph: Eric Luke
A cyclical mystery

An Irishman’s Diary: How bike racing may the key to Beckett’s most famous character

François-Marie Arouet: ’Adjectives are frequently the greatest enemy of the substantive’
Adjectives that should be banned

An Irishman’s Diary on why certain words are the enemy of meaning

‘Cyclist Frank: Hold it right there, pal. We pay road tax too. The only difference is, we don’t use the car.’ Photograph: Sander Nagel/ Getty Images
The war of the road users

An Irishman’s Diary hosts three-way peace talks

‘I was certain the kid would crack, sooner or later. But as we approached the 4k mark, there was no sign of weakness from my diminutive rival. He was still skipping along like a baby cheetah. If either of us was under pressure, it was me.’ Above, runners wait for the start of last weekend’s Patrick Bell Memorial Race in Bohermeen, Co Meath
The young dog for the smooth road

An Irishman’s Diary: A humbling experience in Meath

Keane steals the show as men from Faroe Islands frozen out

Not too much here to encourage those romantics who still believe Republic can qualify for World Cup

‘Beckett’s cryptic reply took the form of a deft pun and two questions: “Why don’t I submit my Lafcadio Hernia to Irishman’s Diary? Why is it customary to keep one’s fly buttoned?” And with that, apparently, the subject was closed.’ Above, head of Samuel Beckett by sand sculptor Niall Magee (from the Festival of Sand Sculpture at Dublin Castle, 2007). Photograph: Frank Miller
Journalism of the absurd

An Irishman’s Diary: The Samuel Beckett we’ll never know

‘Bridge or no bridge, Jonathan Swift’s monuments already include St Patrick’s Psychiatric Hospital, funded by his will. And it’s in keeping with Swift’s sense of humour that the same hospital is in part responsible for a very acute bend on the aforemetioned tram’s red line, reducing the Luas to glacial speed as it approaches the city centre.’ Image: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Moving Swiftly on

An Irishman’s Diary: Dublin celebrates the return of a favourite son

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