Percy french biography

He was buried in Formby in Lancashire. French was twice married; his first wife Ethel Armytage Moore, who was from Cavan, died as a result of childbirth inwith their infant daughter dying some weeks after. He married again inthis time to a young Englishwoman named Helen Sheldon. Harry BoylanDictionary of Irish Biography edn. Robert Hoganed.

Justin McCarthy, Irish Lit. Emerald Isle Books Cat. Kelly, ed. Are you right? It is said that he drove his horse and cart to Carrick-on-Shannon, parked the horse and cart outside the railway station and took the train to Dublin. Legend has it that the horse ran all across Ireland looking for Paddy, until Paddy Reilly was said to have returned.

Percy French. Tulsk, Co. The Jarvey: The Irish Puncha comic mag. Houston Collison [var. Healy, ed. When later became well-known, his paintings from this time were sought after. In French became the editor of a comic weekly magazine in Dublin, The Jarveyand he promoted a series of concerts and advertised his many comic songs under the title of The Jarvey Concert Company.

When The Jarvey failed after two years, French turned to the stage full time. He wrote, produced and played the major part in the revue Dublin up to Date. In November French's second wife became Helen Sheldon from Warwickshire and they had three daughters. French is renowned today for composing and singing comic songs and gained considerable distinction with such songs as Phil the Fluther's Ball[ 5 ] Slattery's Mounted Footand The Mountains of Mourne [ 6 ] this last was one of several written with his friend, stage partner and fellow composer, Houston Collisson.

Percy french biography

French also wrote many sketches and amusing parodic recetations, the most famous of which is The Queen's After-Dinner Speechwritten on the occasion of Queen Victoria 's visit to Dublin inin which French drolly suggests "There's a slate off Willie Yeats". In addition, he wrote several poems, some he called "poems of pathos". Many of his poems and songs are on the theme of emigration.

He remained a regular contributor to The Irish Cyclista weekly journal until his death and there as in "The Jarvey" his many parodies are to be found not least numerous parodies of Thomas Moore and Gilbert and Sullivan. According to the story, French arrived late at the court, and when questioned by the judge he responded "Your honour, I travelled by the West Clare Railway", resulting in the case being thrown out.

In Januarywhen he was 65 years old, French became ill while performing in Glasgow. French lived there from with his second wife and family. When he moved there, he sent out a communication to his friend: 'We have come to live by the canal, Do drop in! A statue of French sitting on a park bench in the town centre of Ballyjamesduff honours him and his song Come Back, Paddy Reilly, to Ballyjamesduff.

In Marcha memorial to French was unveiled in Newcastle, County Downat the site of the Slieve Donard Hotel at the foot of the Mountains of Mourneto mark the centenary of his death. The following songs are attributed to Percy French: [ 13 ]. Collaborations with William Houston Collisson — Artworks by French have increased in value.

The story goes that the purchaser had "buyer's remorse", and the painting was purchased immediately by a gallerist. Oliver Nulty d. Nulty promoted French from the day he opened the gallery in and mounted at least 15 solo exhibitions of French and several group shows featuring French, one opened by Peter Ustinov. Nulty had been a collector for years before opening a gallery but he had a particularly fondness for French as his parents had met French in London in when they attended one of his percies french biography and met him afterwards.

Nulty noticed that Irish visual art was neglected. As well as mounting several solo exhibitions of French's paintings he published several catalogues of French's watercolours. French's daughters, Joan and Ettie were regular visitors to the Oriel Gallery from the early s and the gallery possesses their letters to Oliver. Peter Ustinov opened the French exhibition in the Oriel to a thronged audience.

French's archive currently resides in the North Down MuseumBangor, County Down where researchers are welcome to view material by appointment with the museum.