THE FIRST summer school to celebrate one of Ireland’s best-loved songwriters, Percy French, begins this week in Roscommon town and at Castlecoote House nearby.
Participants will include former minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht Michael D Higgins, and writers Eugene McCabe and Carlo Gebler. French’s songs will be performed by soprano Toni Walsh with harpist Áine Ní Dhubhghaill; Courtney Kenny, a grandnephew of Percy French; Simon Morgan; and Dick Hogan with harpist Teresa O’Donnell.
French was born in 1854 at Cloonyquinn House near Elphin in Co Roscommon. He graduated from TCD as a civil engineer in 1881 and joined the board of works in Co Cavan as an inspector of drains. He also painted.
His best-known songs include The Mountains of Mourne, Come Back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff, Are Ye Right There Michael? and Phil the Fluther’s Ball. He died of pneumonia in 1920 in Formby, Lancashire, where he is buried.
There will be performances of his songs at the library in Roscommon town on Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm. At 7pm on Friday in Castlecoote House, Mr Higgins will give the opening address.
It will be followed by performances of songs. On Saturday, a day-long programme of events at Castlecoote House begins at 9.30am with a lecture by former Dublin Oriel Gallery curator Bernadette Lowry on his paintings.
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