Francis MacManus  

The Years of the Great Test – 1926-1939

14.99

A fantastic collection of essays that explores Ireland’s transition from a British Commonwealth member to an independent Republic, highlighting political, social and cultural shifts

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Description

Every autumn, winter and spring since September 1953, Radio Telefis Eireann has been broadcasting half-hour lectures, named in honour of Thomas Davis. Inspired by one of his famous sayings, 'Educate that you may be free', the aim of these lectures has been to provide in popular form what is best in Irish scholarship and the sciences. Most of the lectures have been in series; many have been single broadcasts; some have been in English, some in Irish. In the time that has passed since they were initiated, the lectures have dealt with many aspects and with many centuries of Irish social life, history, science and literature. The lectures, distinguished for their special learning at home and abroad, have been drawn from many nations but mainly from Ireland.   Francis MacManus (8 March 1909–27 November 1965) was an Irish novelist and broadcaster. Born in Kilkenny, MacManus was educated in the local Christian Brothers school and later at St. Patrick's College, Dublin and University College Dublin. After teaching for eighteen years at the Synge Street CBS in Dublin, MacManus joined the staff of Radio Éireann (precursor to RTÉ, the Irish national broadcasting entity) in 1948 as Director of Features. MacManus died in Dublin 27 November 1965. The RTÉ Francis MacManus Short Story Award was established in his memory in 1985.

Author

Francis MacManus (8 March 1909–27 November 1965) was an Irish novelist and broadcaster. Born in Kilkenny, MacManus was educated in the local Christian Brothers school and later at St. Patrick’s College, Dublin and University College Dublin. After teaching for eighteen years at the Synge Street CBS in Dublin, MacManus joined the staff of Radio Éireann (precursor to RTÉ, the Irish national broadcasting entity) in 1948 as Director of Features.

MacManus began writing while still teaching and first published a trilogy set in Penal times and concerning the life of Donnchadh Ruadh Mac Conmara, an author of Irish poetry in the Irish-language. The trilogy comprises the novels Stand and Give Challenge (1934), Candle for the Proud (1936) and Men Withering (1939).

A second trilogy followed which turned its attention to contemporary Ireland: This House Was Mine (1937), Flow On, Lovely River (1941), and Watergate (1942). The location was the fictional “Dombridge”, based on Kilkenny, and deal with established themes of Irish rural life: obsessions with land, sexual frustration, and the trials of emigration and return. Other major works include the novel The Greatest of These (1943), concerning religious conflict in nineteenth-century Kilkenny, and the biographies Boccaccio (1947) and Saint Columban (1963). In his last two novels, MacManus descended into the depths of theological debate: The Fire in the Dust (1950) was followed by American Son (1959), a remarkable dialogue between conflicting modes of belief which reveals the strong influence of Roman Catholicism on the author.

MacManus died in Dublin 27 November 1965 at the age of 56, from a heart attack.

The RTÉ Francis MacManus Short Story Award was established in his memory in 1985.