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.

‘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 In support of which theory, he mentions a late, unpublished prose work, called “The Way”, in which Beckett twice describes a repeating-loop path going up and down a hill.”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

Flann O’Brien/Myles na gCopaleen: ‘No doubt the possibility that the new bridge might be interpreted as a celebration of civil service absenteeism will be held up as a reason for his snubbing by City Hall.’
A bridge name too far

An Irishman’s Diary: How Flann O’Brien is snubbed in Dublin but at home in Rome

‘Pleasant as the Croppies Memorial Park is, the Anna Livia sculpture has been cutting a sad figure of late. A plaque nearby claims she was “unveiled” there in 2011 by the then Lord Mayor. But “unfrocked” would be closer. Because although she was nude to start with, and remains so, she looks much more naked these days, without her former stone-block surrounds.’
Croppies lie back

An Irishman’s Diary: The strange fate of Anna Livia

More articles

Second Captains June 18th: Cuddly toys, Joe Kinnear's CV, US Murph returns and more
 
News Blog It's all about the G8 and Glendalough today - there may be other news too!
 

Latest

Ireland edged out by France in fifth place semi-final
Assad warns Britain and France against arming rebels
Syrian tensions spillover into Lebanon as Sunni and Shia militias clash
Parliamentary assistant to Donegal TD claims unfair dismissal
Fresh call for statutory Magdalene inquiry

Popular

Beautiful day as Obamas keep Dalkey date with Bono
Government’s fine words about reform of governance have faded away to nothing
Parliamentary assistant to Donegal TD claims unfair dismissal
Russia torpedoes G8 efforts to oust Assad
US to hold peace talks with Taliban

Connect



Now is the time to review your CAO choices. The price of failure to do this now before the CAO change of mind closes at 5.15pm on July 1st can be a very big one. Photograph: Reuters
CAO Change of Mind It's not too late to change your mind
 

Galleries

The crowd cheer as the cavalcade carrying the US First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters, Malia and Sasha, pases through Dalkey, Co Dublin today. Photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish Times The Obamas come to Ireland
Taoiseach Enda Kenny, present at the G8 summit due to Ireland's presidency of the EU, at Lough Erne with US president Barack Obama and British prime minister David Cameron. Photograph: Photograph: Andrew Winning/Reuters G8 comes to Lough Erne

Blogs

How quickly can we reboot?

The craze for premature revamps sets us pondering a Harry Potter remake. It will happen. But when?
Yeezus, Yary and Yoseph

'Ye's new album is here, and it's MEAN.

home_delivery_300x120
Rewarding Times Buy now for €20 Rewarding Times Buy now for €20

Save €20 on a ticket to Shush at the Abbey Theatre on Thursday June 27th, plus a copy of the script

Rewarding Times Buy now for €30 Rewarding Times Buy now for €30

Save €30 on a Donnybrook Fair Cookery School demonstration class, plus 25% off your next booking

Select for slide 1 Select for slide 2
pagesales_300x120
eircom Business Centre eircom Business Centre

Latest blog post: Why eFibre speeds? Ask your kids

Photo Sales Photo Sales

Choose from an extensive range of photographs taken by Irish Times photographers

epaper_300x120