Sir, – I recently realised that in three-and-a-half years’ time it will be the centenary of the birth of my father, Walter Macken. He was born on May 3rd, 1915. I wonder if the arts community in Ireland could see its way to celebrating or marking this important centenary in some way?
My father had a distinguished career as an actor/producer with the Taibhdhearc in Galway where he presented on stage over 77 productions and then in the Abbey Theatre where he worked for three years from 1948 to 1951.
His acting career took him to Broadway on two occasions where he appeared in MJ Molloy’s King of Friday’s Men in 1951 and later in his own play Home is the Hero in 1954.
But it was in his career as a writer that he really became a well- known figure.
His first novel, Quench the Moon, was published in the UK and the US in 1948, and between then and 1967, during his life-time he had a total of 10 novels, seven plays, three books of short stories and two children’s books published.
Most of his books are still in print even though he died over 44 years ago.
It would be great to see a number of things happening. First, that any of his books which are out of print might be published; second, that some of his plays would be revived in the Abbey Theatre – Home is the Hero ran for 19 weeks when it was first staged in the 1950s.
I think that my father (although he died at the age of 51 in 1967), was one of the first writers to earn a full-time living from his writing before the arrival in Ireland of tax- free status, or books prizes. He proved that a writer could earn his living writing books which were read widely in Ireland, the UK and indeed in translation into Polish, Russian, French, Italian and even Japanese.
I would love to see Ireland’s arts community celebrating his life in some way.
If any one is interested they can contact me here in Galway, at ultan007@gmail.com, or at the address below. – Yours, etc,