Frank McCourt

1930-2009

In Loving Memory of Frank McCourt who passed away on 19th July 2009. A great writer, teacher, and wonderful human being who showed how the human spirit can rise above adversity.

About Frank

Name: Frank McCourt
From: New York, Limerick, Ireland
Age: 78 years old

Parents:

Angela Sheehan and Malachy McCourt

Offer Condolences

Music

Song Title:Over The Rainbow
Music by the O'Neill Brothers www.pianobrothers.com

Candles

Sunday, December 25, 2011, 8:12:39 PM From june Jordan: "Thank you for the wonderful story of your life and times and for opening eyes with honesty."
Tuesday, June 08, 2010, 1:26:38 AM From Kelly Anglin: "I am so thankful that Frank shared his life with us through his writing. He gave us all a wonderful gift. He will never be forgotten."
Thursday, April 22, 2010, 9:47:31 PM From Nuria Garcia: "Siempre estará en nuestros corazones, un gran escritor y una gran persona. Jamás me cansaré de leer sus libros."
Saturday, August 22, 2009, 8:47:43 PM From Gul Ulker: "When I first read Angela's Ashes I was surprised to find out someone who feels and thinks in the same way I do and share so many things in common in spite of the geographical and cultural distance...How I wished I had a chance to meet you to tell you what an influence your story has in my life and thank you for your hearty tale that taught me to laugh at my bad luck. You will always be in my heart. May God bless your soul."
Tuesday, August 18, 2009, 2:30:44 PM From ELLY KOMBE: "May God console the whole family of relatives and readers!"
Monday, August 03, 2009, 9:41:14 PM From Anna Kowalski: "Thank you for your inspiration."
Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 10:27:18 PM From Susan Kelly: "God Bless Sweet Frank and his Devoted Widow Ellen and all the McCourts. Thanks Be to God for the gifts of himself he gave the world and for his endless Humility And Selfless Giving to Others in the face of Fame, Riches, etc. I pray to be Blessed to attend his Memorial on Oct 6th...."
Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 7:52:23 AM From Jennifer Wohlers: "Thank you for the inspiration and touching my life and millions of others. You're a beautiful soul. You're missed, and have a beautiful journey on the other side."
Monday, July 27, 2009, 11:01:07 PM From Tom Costelloe: ""Come away, O human child! To the waters and the wild With a faery, hand in hand, For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand." "
Friday, July 24, 2009, 10:58:20 PM From Dominic Brennan: "Eternal rest grant unto Frank, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, through your mercy, rest in peace. Amen. "
Friday, July 24, 2009, 7:24:45 AM From Caitlin Ni Chasadaigh: "Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a hanam uasal.""
Thursday, July 23, 2009, 1:07:17 AM From Ann Connolly: "My sympathy to the McCourt Family in your great loss."
Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 10:22:07 PM From Seamas O'Lochlainn: "Frank, Suaimhneas síoraí le grá. Buíochas"
Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 5:11:37 AM From Mary Massa: "God Bless You, Frank McCourt... I never knew you personally but I have always admired and respected you. Thank you, your stories touched my heart..."
Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 4:28:58 AM From Ang. Barr: "We will miss you, Blinky McCourt...more than you will ever know."
Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 9:44:41 PM From Kathleen O'Connor: "Prayer of St Teresa of Ávila Let nothing trouble you, Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing; God never changes. Patience obtains all things. He who possesses God lacks nothing: God alone suffices. "
Monday, July 20, 2009, 10:00:06 PM From Susan Clarke: "Goodnight Angel. There is a home not made by hands, beyond its golden door awaits the one who’s now away, not lost just gone before and in that home not made by hands the Master will prepare a place for us, and when he calls we’ll meet our loved ones there "
Monday, July 20, 2009, 4:04:06 PM From Jo McKnight: "I thank God for bringing you into our lives, sharing your love and great talent."
Monday, July 20, 2009, 2:29:31 PM From Christopher Kimmell: "God's Love."
Monday, July 20, 2009, 1:53:34 PM From Pat O'Brien: "Deepest sympathy to Ellen and all the McCourts."
Monday, July 20, 2009, 11:15:42 AM From Recha Allgaier: "Thank you so much for your books, you will never be forgotten!"
Monday, July 20, 2009, 10:37:31 AM From James Walsh: "What a journey you had. I hope it continues, and that you continue to inspire us. "
Monday, July 20, 2009, 9:20:03 AM From Mary Mahon: "I wish your spirit a peaceful journey. Thanks for the great books and wonderful stories."

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This memorial page was created by Joe McGuiggan

Life Story

Francis McCourt was born in New York in 1930. His mother Angela was named after the Angelus Bell which rang out the New Year and her arrival into the world. His father Malachy was from Toome in the North of Ireland.

"When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood."

Poverty in New York was followed by worse poverty in Limerick and contributed to the deaths of his twin brothers and sister in infancy. Any effort to rise above the grinding poverty was dashed with Malachy's drinking.

The sense of abandonment of the family by his father is present in all three memoirs.

His first memoir 'Angela's Ashes' brought him international fame in 1996. He recalls his formative years in Limerick and the constant struggle to survive. At its lowest point he was reduced to stealing food, and his mother reduced to begging outside the priest's house. Only her endeavours protected the children from an orphanage. It is a painful but humourous account, with wonderful stories of First Confession, First Communion, Irish dancing classes and reading 'The Lives of the Saints' in the city library. "Angela's Ashes' earned him the Pulitzer Prize for biography.

Frank's dream of escaping Limerick and living in America was realised in 1949, and this second phase of his life was recorded colourfully in his second memoir 'Tis, published in 1999. He was conscripted into the army during the Korean war and afterwards worked on the New York waterfront, to support himself, his family in Limerick, and his dream of becoming a teacher. That dream was realised in 1957. " I had to find my own way of being a man and a teacher and that is what I struggled with for thirty years in and out of the classrooms of New York"

His teaching career is covered in his third memoir 'Teacher Man' , a tribute to teachers, and those who try to teach disinterested students. It also charts his progress in coming to accept himself, and how this in turn encourages his students to find their own voice.. It is told in Frank's own inimitable style and although autobiographical, also provides an excellent psychological study on teaching.

He married Alberta Small in 1961. The marriage ended in 1978.

He retired from teaching in 1988 which allowed him time to work on his writing. In the 1980's he joined up with his brother Malachy in a two - man stage show called ' A Couple of Blaguards' about their lives and experiences growing up in Limerick. Following the success of his books he was kept busy with public reading engagements, lectures and writer in residences at universities.

He had hoped to write another book, a novel about Limerick.

Success never went to his head and his new found prosperity allowed him to be generous in his support of friends and struggling young writers.

In 2009 Frank developed melanoma skin cancer. He was fighting it successfully and carrying out his speaking engagements, until several weeks before his death when he developed meningitis. His final days were spent in a Manhattan Hospice, surrounded by his loving family and friends.

He passed away on the 19th July 2009. He was cremated according to his wishes.

A memorial service was held in Symphony Space, New York, on Tuesday 6th October. Speaking to a packed congregation Mayor Bloomberg announced that a new school in New York is to be named after the author. The Frank McCourt High School on Manhattan's Upper West Side is expected to open next September.

Frank McCourt is survived by his wife Ellen, Maggie his daughter to his first wife, granddaughter, Chiara, and grandsons Frank and Jack.

Ina grá agus dia le deas.

Angela's Ashes: A memoir of a childhood, Harper Collins 1996 ISBN 0 00 772744 5

'Tis: A Memoir, published by Flamingo, London, 1999 ISBN 0 00 257080 7

Teacher Man : A Memoir, pubished by Fourth Estate, London, 2005
ISBN 13 978 000 717398 3

Milestones

1930: New York Francis McCourt was born on 19th August in Brooklyn, New York to immigrant Irish parents. He was named Francis after his paternal grandfather and Saint Francis of Assisi.
1934: Limerick The McCourt Family including four remaining children moved back to Ireland and Limerick after the death of their baby daughter, where they lived in abject poverty made worse by their father's drinking and later abandonment.
1935: Death of twins Twins Oliver and Eugene died within 6 months of each other.

1940: Hospital Frank spent months in hospital recovering from typhoid fever. He was introduced to books, Shakespeare, and authors such as P G Wodehouse. Meanwhile, at school he was already showing a flair for writing. "School, Frankie, school. The books, the books, the books. Get out of Limerick before your legs rot and your mind collapses entirely." The advice was from Mr. Hannon who he helped deliver coal in the horse and float. It was the best day of his life, the day that Mr. Hannon allowed him to drive the float. It was short lived though as the coal dust affected a chronic eye condition. " And I can't stop crying because this was my one chance to be a man and bring home the money the telegram boy never brought from my father.
1944: Telegram boy " Its hard to sleep when you know the next day you're fourteen and starting your first job as a man". Delivering telegrams introduced him to the real extent of poverty in the back lanes of Limerick. Later he delivered papers for Easons and started saving money for the day he would escape to America.
1949: Amerikay " That's your dream out now " At the age of 19 years Frank set off for New York with "The Works of William Shakespeare", his first purchased book, safely stored in his suitcase. His first job was cleaning the lobby of the Biltimore Hotel. He was tormented with conjunctivitis and wages were low but he still managed to send 10 dollars a week back to his mother in Limerick. "New York was the city of my dreams but now I'm here the dreams are gone and its not what I expected at all. I never thought I'd be going round a hotel lobby cleaning up after people and scouring toilet bowls in the lavatories.. How could I ever write to my mother or anyone in Limerick and tell them the way I'm living in this rich land with two dollars to last me for the week"
1950: Korean War Frank was drafted in to the U.S. army at the age of 21 years. He was sent to Europe where he served in the dog training canine corps and in the company clerk school, earning the rank of corporal on account of his powerful typing skills.
1954: University In the Spring of 1954, after the end of the war he became a full time student at New York University. He continued to work part time on the docks and warehouses to support both himself and his mother and brother still living in Limerick. He completed his degree course and also passed Board of Education exams for teaching high school English.
1958: "Who threw the sandwiches?" His first words uttered in his first teaching post! He would spend the next 30 years teaching in New York Public High Schools "You're on your own in the classroom, one man or woman facing five classes every day, five classes of teenagers. One unit of energy against one hundred and seventy - five units of energy, one hundred and seventy - five ticking bombs, and you have to find ways of saving your life. I learned through trial and error and paid a price for it."
1959: McCourts in America His mother and youngest brother Alfie moved to New York thanks to Frank's brother Malachy who had followed him there and who ran a succcessful bar in the city.
1961: Marriage Married Alberta Small. Started studying for his M.A. in English literature.
1969: Dublin Spent two years in Dublin studying for a PHD which he didn't finish. He was disappointed with Dublin. He thought he would be part of a witty literary circle, but 'If there was a circle I was never part of it. I prowled the periphery.'
1971: Maggie The birth of his daughter Maggie. He took her to Ireland. "My mother used to say that a child gains her vision at six weeks and if that was true we should take her to Ireland so that her first image would be of moody Irish skies, a passing shower with the sun shining through."
1974: Creative writing He became a creative writing instructor at the prestigious Peter Stuyvesant High School It was a different challenge requiring unconventional methods of interacting and releasing creativity among students. He used recipes, restaurant reviews, nursery rhymes and outdoor food parties to stimulate interest. His classes became immensely popular with students. As he told his own stories he gave students the freedom to tell their own stories based on childhood experiences.
1978: End of marriage After a number of rocky years his marriage ended. "Slum- reared Irish Catholics have nothing in common with nice girls from New England"
1981: Death of Mother "Angela McCourt, mother of seven, believer, sinner, though when I contemplate her seventy - three years on this earth I can't believe the Lord God Almighty on his throne would even dream of consigning her to the flames. A God like that wouldn't deserve the time of day, her life was Purgatory enough and surely she's in the better place with her three children, Margaret, Oliver, Eugene."
1985: Death of father His father Malachy dies in Belfast. "Remembrances of my mother by the fire waiting for the money that never came and having to beg from the St. Vincent de Paul Society, memories of my brothers asking if they could have one more cut of fried bread. All this was your doing Dad, and even if we came out of it, your sons, you inflicted a life of misfortune on our mother. I could only kneel by his coffin again and recall mornings in Limerick when the fire glowed and he talked softly for fear of waking my mother and brothers, telling me of Ireland's sufferings and the great deeds of the Irish in America and those mornings are now pearls that turn into three Hail Marys there by the coffin."
1988: Retirement Advice "Find out what you love and do it. That's what it boils down to. I'll admit I didn't always love teaching. I was out of my depth .... After a few years you develop antennae. You can tell when you've reached them or alienated them.... The great American drama is the clash of adolescence with middle age. My hormones beg for a quiet clearing in the woods, theirs are brassy, throbbing demanding"
1994: Marriage Married Ellen Frey on the banks of the Delaware River.
1996: Angela's Ashes It was only after retirement from teaching that Frank was able to find his own voice and his years of jottings of growing up in Limerick came to fruition with the publication of 'Angela's Ashes', a story told in the present from the viewpoint of a young boy and teenager Published in 17 languages in 27 countries it almost 6 million copies worldwide and won the Pulitzer Prize for biography and The National Book Critics Circle Award.
1999: 'Tis 'Tis continued his story of his life and survival in the U.S.A. In doing so he depicted the world of the Irish immigrant. The book was written in eighteen months and became another best seller.
2003: University of Limerick Frank bought and presented to University of Limerick, a collection of books, periodicals and paintings which had been collected by Father John Leonard. There was one condition, that the collection be kept in a room named in memory of his mother.
2005: Teacher Man An ode to teachers, who Frank considered to be treated very badly in the U.S.A compared to their counterparts in Europe. As in all his writings there are humorous accounts, telling the stories of peoples lives, for example bringing twenty eight African American teenage girls to the cinema. "Now I think it is time to give myself credit for at least one virtue: doggedness. "Teachers learn too. After years in the classroom, after facing thousands of teenagers, they have that sixth sense about everyone who enters the room. They see the sidelong glances. They sniff the air of a new class and they can tell if this a pain-in-the-ass group or one they can work with.... In every class there's a pest put on earth to test you. He usually sits in the last row, where he can tilt his chair against the wall. Andrew knows the tilting chair will annoy you, at least get your attention. Then he can play the little game that will catch the eyes of the girls."
2009: Ilness In May 2009 he was diagnosed with terminal skin cancer but was responding well to treatment. However he suffered a relapse. In his last few days he was able to communicate with friends He passed away on 19th July surrounded by his family.

Shared Memories

Frank McCourt from peter quinn

The great attribute that Frank McCourt brought to his life and work was his honesty and his humour. He brought both to bear in his wonderful account of his early life in Limerick. He depicted with honesty and good humour the desperate poverty that existed when he was growing up. Frank's writings were one aspect of that wider and deeper creativity that constituted becoming what he knew he could become. That is, a self-accepting and rejoicing human being.

It's great too the way Frank's biography embraced Ireland, north and south, as well as America. It's often forgotten that Frank's father came from Toome in Co.Antrim.
In the same spirit that Frank McCourt was able through the power of love and insight to embrace and transform his past experiences, I will finish off with some words by Emily Dickinson, a poet who came from America, that country in which Frank lived out the greater part of his earthly existence:

LOVE is anterior to life,
Posterior to death,
Initial of creation, and
The exponent of breath.

Heart of New York from Mayor Bloomberg New York

A year or two ago, Frank McCourt and I were speaking at Adrian Flannelly’s annual St. Patrick’s Day party and radio show when Frank said, "New York is such a lovely city. I was born here, and I’d like to die here too – in about 30 years." Sadly, we lost Frank far too soon.

Frank arrived in New York from Limerick with nothing and – like so many Irish immigrants before him – worked to build a better life here. He shared his gift for teaching with thousands of New York City public school children, and when he retired, he shared his gift for storytelling with the world. Frank’s love for his students was matched only by the respect he had for his fellow teachers, and his success as a writer reflects the incredible talent that is found at the front of public school classrooms throughout the City.

New York City has always been home to artists and visionaries, but Frank McCourt will forever occupy a special place in the literary lore of this city. Of all the great New York writers, few have ever captured the hearts of readers – and the heart of the City – as well as Frank. His books will remain a mainstay in classrooms and living rooms around the world, inspiring millions more in the generations to come. And here in the City he loved, he is deeply missed.

YOU NEVER DIED! from ELLY KOMBE

THEY SAY THAT FIGHTERS NEVER DIE, ONE SIMPLY FALLS! YOUR WORK WILL LIVE LONGER AND LONGER WHEREVER PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH INJUSTICE,POVERTY, AND DISCRIMINATION!
SO LONG!

You are an inspiration! from Michele Kranik

My biggest regret was not meeting you when I had the chance. You were at a book signing for 'Teacher Man' in Pittsburgh, and I found out after the fact.

You are an amazing inspiration to me, Frank. You are one of the reasons that I am striving to become a teacher myself, the other being my own mother who teaches emotionally disturbed teenagers.

Thank you for your wonderful stories, and for being human.

Brothers who would change Irish Literature! from Michael D O'Higginns T.D.

'It was with the deepest sadness that I heard of Frank's passing. I can clearly remember when I first met Frank, and Malachy, McCourt. I was introduced to them by the late Jim Kemmy TD.

'The Brothers McCourt's flight from New York had been delayed, and he asked me, as a Limerick-born man, to delay until the next day, Friday my return to Galway from Dublin. This was in order, as he said, to meet people who would change Irish literature, as indeed they did. Every time that I met Frank subsequently they were meetings in which he conveyed his natural warmth and humour. He was a wonderful writer, educator and his passing is an occasion for great sadness, but it is also an opportunity to appreciate the indelible imprint he has left on Ireland, America and the wider world, and further, on the world of words and creativity.'

In grateful remembrance from Beatriz

Beloved, Frank, it's hard to believe you're really gone. You touched so many people so deeply through the years, but none as deeply as me, I assure you, because I knew your unique pain, the pain you tried to exorcise with Angela's Ashes, the pain of watching your mother hurt, humiliated, disgraced. I know that pain very well and I understood you perfectly. My love and admiration for you knew no limits and when you died I was devastated, but I'm feeling better now, you're with Angela now and she's telling you "well done son, well done, some things need to be told." You were the bravest and most vibrant of writers, that's why it's hard to accept that you're no longer here, but you are, your spirit will live forever through your magic words. Thank you for the wonderful books, Frank, thank you for the lessons, God bless you.

Limerick's most successful & talented son! from Mayor of Limerick Kevin Kiely

I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of one of Limerick's most successful and talented sons, Frank McCourt.
I had the pleasure of meeting Frank personally on quite a few occasions and as someone who enjoyed his books immensely, I was delighted and honoured to meet him.
For a boy coming from such an impoverished background to enjoy such a glowing international literary career and win the Pulitzer Prize is remarkable.
Frank's book, Angela's Ashes, and the subsequent movie thrust Limerick into the world spotlight, his compelling memoir brought a tourism boost to our city and he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Limerick, an insitution he had always hoped would exist in his home town.
My sympathies go out to his wife Ellen, daughter Maggie, brother Malachy and extended family.
Limerick is very proud of, and will never forget, Frank McCourt.

Teacher Man from Frank Murphy

As a secondary school teacher myself I enjoyed reading Frank McCourt's descriptions of teaching in New York High Schools, for example on learning the art of students’ delaying tactics!

“They say, Oh, Mr McCourt, you should take off tomorrow, Paddy’s Day. Gee, you’re Irish. You should go to the parade.

If I took off and stayed in bed all day they’d be just as pleased. Substitutes for absent teachers rarely bother with attendance and students simply cut class. Aw, come on Mr McCourt, you need a holiday with your Irish friends. I mean you wouldn’t come to school if you was in Ireland, would you?

They groan when I appear on the day. Aw shit, man, excuse the language, what kinda Irishman are you? Hey teacher, maybe you’ll go out tonight with all the Irish an’ maybe you won’t be in tomorrow?

I’ll be here tomorrow.

They bring me green things, a potato sprayed, a green bagel, a bottle of Heineken because its green, a head of cabbage with holes for eyes, nose, mouth, wearing a little green leprechaun cap made in the art room. The cabbage is Kevin and has a girlfriend, an eggplant named Maureen. There is a greeting card two feet by two wishing me Happy St. Paddy’s Day with a collage of green paper things, shamrocks, shillelaghs, whiskey bottles, a drawing of a green corned beef, St Patrick holding a glass of green beer instead of a crozier and saying Faith an’ Begorrah, it’s a great day for the Irish, a drawing of me with a balloon saying Kiss Me I’m Irish. The card is signed by dozens of students from my five classes and decorated with happy faces shaped like shamrocks.”

In Loving Memory...and a Tribute in deeds!!! from neal hurwitz

So many people have had a strong emotional/intellectual, etc.
connection to Frank…over the years of helping to run The Campaign for Stuyvesant (www.ourstrongband.org) since 1998, I have been more than impressed that he was one of the singular important “forces” at work in the school, 1970-1987.

In his honor, with his blessing, and for the world to benefit, we are planning a documentary, ‘Frank McCourt on Education’.

What is the substance of what Frank did and represented that is relevant to education, educators, and students everywhere…?

Interested folks can reach me at neal@ourstrongband.org.
And please do see our web site: www.ourstrongband.org.

Thank you!

Neal

Neal H. Hurwitz, SHS ‘62
Executive Director
The Campaign for Stuyvesant/
SHS Alumni(ae) & Friends Endowment Fund, Inc.
PO Box 2626
Peter Stuyvesant Station
NY, NY 10009

We also have a ‘Cause’ page on Facebook! :) and pls visit my Profile page.
— Neal H. Hurwitz, NY, NY

1996 from Dermot Carmody

Maybe it was no coincidence that 1996 saw the publication of two great memoirs, "Angela's Ashes", and "Are You Somebody" by Nuala O'Faolain Two great writers finding their voice and speaking out, and hopefuly giving inspiration to others to do likewise. Frank McCourt's genius was that he was able to express his anger with humour and compassion in a wonderful narrative style.

Thanks from Paddy Brennan

Angela's Ashes, what a great book.
And 'Tis, another great story of an Irish immigrant's experience in New York. Immigrants of many nationalities could relate to that book. Both told with great style, wit and candour that leave a lasting impression.
Thank you Frank McCourt for realising your dream and allowing us to share the richness of your stories.

Rest in Peace

Slán Frank from Mary Madigan

I remember crying the first time I read Angela's Ashes. Part of me didn't want to believe the poverty that Frank McCourt described. Maybe because I was from that part of Ireland. Later I heard Frank read it on audio tape in his lovely Irish brogue and that was even better. Thank you Frank for your great book and for telling the truth as you experienced it.

Mary Madigan, Brooklyn

Dear Frankie from Candice Singh

I've never met you, and yet it breaks my heart to know that you're gone. You've had such an influence in my life, a liberating-growing influence. You've helped me discover that my passion is to teach children, and to one day write a book... or two. I will always remember you, and I will pass on these beautiful books of yours to the children I have one day, and their children...

Rest in peace Frankie.

Boarding Houses from Eddie Collins

'Tis has some great stories of life for the Irish worker in New York in the 1950's. I have included this small extract to give a flavour.

" One of Mary O'Brien's boarders is gone back to Ireland to settle on his father's five acres and marry a girl from down the road. I can have his bed for eighteen dollars a week and help myself in the morning to whatever is in the fridge. The other Irish boarders work on the piers and warehouses and they bring home canned fruits or bottles of rum and whiskey from cases that accidentally fell when ships were being unloaded. Mary says isn't it wonderful that when you say there's something you'd like a whole case of it is accidentally dropped the next day on the docks. There are Sunday mornings we don't bother cooking heavy breakfast we're that happy in the kitchen with slices of pineapple in heavy syrup and glasses of rum to wash it down. Mary reminds us about Mass but we're content enough with our pineapple and rum and soon Timmy Coin is calling for a song even if its Sunday morning. He works in Merchants Refridgerating and often brings home a great side of beef on Friday nights. He's the only one who cares about going to Mass though he makes sure he's back in no time for the pineapple and rum which can't last forever"

Told in great style!

THANKS from Sheelah Glovna

Although I never had the privilege to meet Mr. McCourt, I "knew" him through his wonderful books. I also heard and saw many of his interviews over the years and enjoyed every one of them. What a gift he was to us!

Frank exposes poverty from Sandra Faulkner

" Frank talking about the psychological damage caused by poverty"

Hey! Stop throwing sandwiches from Hugh O'Donnell

Mr. McCourt at a public reading. Ignore the background noise! First day as a teacher! First class! First words!

Thank You from Kevin Bradley

The first time I started to read Angela’s Ashes I couldn’t continue as I found it too painful. However the second time, I discovered the humour and couldn’t put it down. It is a great story and biography but just as importantly a significant social history of Ireland in that era. The bleakness and cruelty of the period has been exposed in recent years. Frank McCourt personalised it in this book, and for that we are indebted to him. Thank you Frank for your honesty and inspiration

In Appreciation from Joe McGuiggan

I didn’t know Frank McCourt, but felt as if I did, having read all of his books. They provide a clear insight to the character of the man, his grit and determination, humour, wit, and gentle personality. It required strength and courage to escape the poverty of Ireland and to find his own way in New York as a nineteen year old, also to overcome the sense of shame and low self esteem that poverty inflicts. It took courage also to write about the poverty of Ireland in the 1930's and 1940's and the cruelty of the system. I am pleased he found the success and prosperity he so richly deserved. May his soul rest in peace.