Sir, – I was disappointed by your obituary of Derek Mahon ("One of the great poets of his generation", October 10th).
I’d known and worked with him for more than 40 years. The concentration on his earlier life and personal troubles and the first impressions of him (“truculent”) did not portray the man many of us knew and loved in the last 25 years.
His recovery was heroic. His late accomplishments were remarkable.
Though inherently shy, a private man focused on his art, he was brilliant company. There was much laughter with him. None of this, nor the peace his once troubled soul found in Kinsale with Sarah Iremonger, is reflected in your commemoration. – Yours, etc,
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PETER FALLON,
Editor and Publisher,
The Gallery Press,
Loughcrew,
Oldcastle,
Co Meath.