[Marxism] Fw: Irish PM (Taoiseach) criticised at unvailing of statue of Brendan Behan

["John O'Neill" <johnfergaloneill@xxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: John O'Neill <johnfergaloneill@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: marxism <marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 1:53 AM
Subject: Irish PM (Taoiseach) criticised at unvailing of statue of Brendan
Behan


> Ahern incurs wrath of Paudge Behan
> Olivia Kelly
> It was not appropriate for the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to officially unveil a
> statue of Brendan Behan as there was "nobody further removed" from the
> writer's spirit, a member of the Behan family has said.
> Mr Paudge Behan, the son of Brendan Behan's widow Beatrice, said his
family
> did not choose to have Mr Ahern officiate at the unveiling of a statue to
> Behan at the Royal Canal, Dublin, yesterday, and he "was not happy" that
the
> Taoiseach attended.
> Speaking at the event, Mr Ahern said that along with other Dubliners he
was
> proud that Brendan Behan, "hailed from these parts". Referring to the
statue
> of Patrick Kavanagh at the Grand Canal, on the south side of the city, he
> added, "I know I'm slightly biased as a northsider, but I think it's about
> time the scales were balanced."
> When asked to say a few words after the Taoiseach's address, Mr Behan
> addressed Mr Ahern directly saying: "There is nobody further removed from
> Behan's spirit than yourself."
> Mr Behan later explained that his family had not been consulted about who
> would attend the event in an official capacity and he wasn't pleased the
> Taoiseach attended.
> "What has Bertie Ahern in common with Brendan Behan, other than they are
> both Irish? When you see what is happening with the fat cats in this
> country, with Bertie Ahern and his Government, I can't think of anyone
> further from the spirit of Brendan Behan. Shannon being used as an
American
> air base for waging war on another country, was that in the spirit of
> Brendan Behan?"
> Mr Behan said he was very pleased with the statue, a life-size bronze
> sculpted by John Coll, depicting Behan as a young man seated on a canal
bank
> bench. "It's a beautiful piece of art, very cleverly designed."
> The unveiling of the statue was attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr
> Royston Brady, the Dublin City Manager, Mr John Fitzgerald, and actor
Niall
> Tóbín.
>
>
>
> © The Irish Times
>
>



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