A chara, - A recent seminar at the Irish Writers' Centre celebrated the life and work of JG Farrell (1935-1979). The panel discussion and audience reaction were lively and I hope they signal revived interest in Farrell's novels, especially the "Empire Trilogy".
At the seminar, and from Lavinia Greacen's biography, JG Farrell, the making of a Writer, I learned about Jim Farrell's life including his time in Dalkey. While in London in the 1970s, he was active in the writers' campaign for Public Lending Right (PLR). As a result, authors have an excellent PLR scheme to compensate them for multiple borrowing of books from public libraries in the UK.
Despite a European directive in 1992, authors are still awaiting an Irish PLR scheme. The Government has promised legislation after the threat of European court action. The Irish Writers' Union (IWU), of which I am a past chairman, campaigns for an Irish PLR scheme.
Farrell died prematurely from drowning in 1979. If he had lived, he would probably have been inspired to write creatively about contemporary political themes. From his track record, I think he would also have advocated Irish authors' rights, including PLR. - Is mise,
TONY QUINN, Dalkey, Co Dublin.