Page 29 - The 16th Percy French Festival: Our Great Disconnect

Paul healy Percy french

d
Castleacre is delighted to support

n
the Percy French Festival Paul grew up in Rooskey, Co. Roscommon. French, the son of an Anglo-Irish landlord,
Having previously worked for the Longford was born in Cloonyquin, Co. Roscom mon.

Leader and Longford News, he spent sixteen While study ing at Trinity College Dublin,
years as Editor of the Roscommon Champion, he wrote the song Abdul Abulbul Amir which
before launching the Roscommon People became hugely pop u lar; he missed out on

with his wife, Fiona, in 2007. Paul is Manag- royalties having sold the publishing rights.
ing Editor of the Roscommon People. For In 1881, on grad ua ting as a civil engineer
many years he edited the Roscommon Asso- he became ‘Inspector of Drains’ for County
ciation Yearbook. He is author of five books Cavan’s Board of Works. A prolific painter of
to date, on subjects ranging from sport to water col our land scapes, he consid ered art
politics to social history, and also an occa- to be his voc a tion. He first became cele-
sional contributor to Phoenix magazine. brated for his songwiting, including Phil the
Fluther’s Ball, Slattery’s Mounted Foot, and
lyrics of The Moun tains of Mourne. His song
Are Ye Right There Michael? ridiculed the
County Clare Rail way company which sued
e for Country Estates,
ing
rang
Ar
Arranging insuranceinsurance

him for libel. On being asked why he had

Protected Structure s, Her itage Homes,, Hotels, arrived late for the hear ing, French replied

,
‘Your honour, I traveled by the West Clare
Fine Ar t, Jewellery a and High Va Rail way’. The case was dismissed. As a well-
,
Value Contents

known enter tainer his paintings became
sought after; they remain so today, attract-
ing high prices at leading auction houses.

Mark Hewlett APA + 353 (0) 86 022 7799

In 1920, in Glasgow, while performing, he
markhewlett@castleac reinsurance.com took ill and died some days later. He was 65.
A

PA
Judy R yan APPAA +353 (0) 85 27 7 62 4 8
Judy Ryan AP
(0) 85 277 6248
53
3
judyryan@castleacreinnsurance.com
www.castleacreinsurance.com
s
s
Castleacre Insurance Services Europe is registered in Ireland No 633539 under Castleacre Insurance
m
(Ireland) Services Limited and is regulat ted by the Central Bank of Ireland as an insurance intermediary.
NO ORDINAR Y INSURANCE N O ORDINAR Y BR OKE R OUR GREAT DISCONNEC T
O
•27• PERCY FRENCH FESTIVAL 2024