BRENDAN BEHANS FINAL RESTING PLACE
BRENDAN BEHAN'S FINAL RESTING PLACE [THIS WAS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED]
When I visit Glasnevin I do not seek out individual graves but today one caught my attention and I was surprised to discover that it was Brendan Behan's grave and I must admit that it was not what I expected to see.
Brendan Behan, the celebrated Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright, is interred in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. His grave is marked by a distinctive granite and bronze gravestone, which was created by the renowned sculptor Clíodhna Cussen in 1974.
The original bronze element of the gravestone was a likeness of Behan's face. Unfortunately, this bronze bust was stolen twice in 1978. It was later replaced in 2014 with a generic bronze figure of a writer. This replacement signifies Behan's immense contribution to literature, rather than being a specific portrait of him. Its meaning lies in honouring his craft and the universal spirit of the literary profession he embodied.
Connections and Other Notable Burials
Glasnevin Cemetery is a significant historical site and the final resting place for a multitude of prominent Irish figures. Alongside Brendan Behan, you'll find the graves of historical giants such as Daniel O'Connell, Maud Gonne, Éamon de Valera, Michael Collins, and Constance Markievicz, as well as cultural icons like Luke Kelly.
Brendan Behan's connection to the Ffrench-Mullen family is through his wife, Beatrice Ffrench Salkeld, whom he married in 1955. Members of her family, the Ffrench-Mullens and Salkelds, are also buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. A small plaque on the ground at Behan's headstone indicates that "Here Also Lie" Jarlath Ffrench-Mullen, Mina Ffrench-Mullen, Blanaid Salkeld (a poet), Cecil Ffrench Salkeld (an artist), and Irma Salkeld. This clearly shows his interment alongside his wife's family, reflecting deep familial ties within this historic cemetery.
When I visit Glasnevin I do not seek out individual graves but today one caught my attention and I was surprised to discover that it was Brendan Behan's grave and I must admit that it was not what I expected to see.
Brendan Behan, the celebrated Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright, is interred in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. His grave is marked by a distinctive granite and bronze gravestone, which was created by the renowned sculptor Clíodhna Cussen in 1974.
The original bronze element of the gravestone was a likeness of Behan's face. Unfortunately, this bronze bust was stolen twice in 1978. It was later replaced in 2014 with a generic bronze figure of a writer. This replacement signifies Behan's immense contribution to literature, rather than being a specific portrait of him. Its meaning lies in honouring his craft and the universal spirit of the literary profession he embodied.
Connections and Other Notable Burials
Glasnevin Cemetery is a significant historical site and the final resting place for a multitude of prominent Irish figures. Alongside Brendan Behan, you'll find the graves of historical giants such as Daniel O'Connell, Maud Gonne, Éamon de Valera, Michael Collins, and Constance Markievicz, as well as cultural icons like Luke Kelly.
Brendan Behan's connection to the Ffrench-Mullen family is through his wife, Beatrice Ffrench Salkeld, whom he married in 1955. Members of her family, the Ffrench-Mullens and Salkelds, are also buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. A small plaque on the ground at Behan's headstone indicates that "Here Also Lie" Jarlath Ffrench-Mullen, Mina Ffrench-Mullen, Blanaid Salkeld (a poet), Cecil Ffrench Salkeld (an artist), and Irma Salkeld. This clearly shows his interment alongside his wife's family, reflecting deep familial ties within this historic cemetery.