Flann O'Brien - a centerary celebration

Brian O'Nolan

On Saturday 1 October next the Circle will unveil a blue plaque in honour of a great writer - novelist, satirist and humourist at the house where he was born. The plaque is but one event organised by Strabane District Council to commemorate the centenary of his birth. The Council, Gaelphobal, Strabane Gaelscoil, Strabane History Society and Libraries NI have compiled a programme of talks, discussions and performances designed to explore his life and work.

Brian O'Nolan (Brian Ó Nualláin), was born into an Irish speaking family and spoke no English before he was seven years old. While at University College Dublin he started his writing career in the college magazine Comhthrom Féinne. He joined the Irish Civil Service and because of this had to use pseudonyms in his writing. His novels were written under the name Flann O'Brien and later his regular satirical column in the Irish Times (Cruiskeen Lawn), which ran from 1940 until his death in 1966, he used the name Myles na gCopaleen. After his death a compilation of these articles was published under the title The Best of Myles a truly marvelous anthology. His novels included At Swin Two Birds, The Third Policeman, The Hard Life, The Dalkey Archive and An Bheal Bocht (The Poor Mouth).

His work has international acclaim and he is regarded as a major figure in twentieth century Irish literature.