Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA WERE quick to report the death of Maeve Binchy last night, underlining the extent to which her work was read and admired worldwide.
Having sold over 40 million books and with many of her works translated into 37 different languages, Binchy was renowned for her story-telling and her books reached new audiences when they were adapted for films including Circle of Friends.
In its article, The Telegraph notes that Binchy’s first novel, Light A Penny Candle, explored themes that would be come familiar throughout her career in writing.
“Its treatment of life in small town Ireland and family dramas were to become familiar themes throughout her work,” the paper says.
BBC News says that Binchy’s “warm, witty and perceptive stories, were read and enjoyed around the world” while the broadcaster also pays tribute to her “renowned generosity and support of others”.
It says that Binchy’s secret, as she revealed herself, was to write the way she spoke.
“I don’t say I was proceeding down a thoroughfare, I say I walked down the road,” it quotes her as saying once when asked to talk about her writing style.
The Sun notes that Binchy’s “sudden death rocked the literary world, and triggered hundreds of online tributes from her army of devastated fans” including the likes of DJ John Kelly and fellow author Amanda Brunker.
Binchy’s books “often had a humorous take on small-town life in Ireland” Bloomberg states while Associated Press also says that the author was “best known for her depictions of small-town Irish life”.
AP also recalls that Tara Road, a story about about Irish and American women who switch homes having never met, was chosen by Oprah Winfrey for her popular book club bringing Binchy’s work to many new readers.
The Guardian has this morning put a prominent tribute to Binchy on its homepage, underlining the extent to which she was loved beyond Ireland:
Writing on the Guardian’s online news piece, Conal Urquhart says that “her novels and short stories focused on the details of Irish life and the friction between tradition and modernity”.
In an excellent tribute posted on his blog, media writer Roy Greenslade notes that Binchy was “warm and witty and wonderful company” and describes how there was a “total absence of malice in Maeve”.
“For her, life was all about laughter. She was the very opposite of what people expect a journalist to be like,” Greenslade writes before exploring her time as women’s editor and later London correspondent at the Irish Times.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
How much of these monies have been sourced by the Catholic church? Surely an old convent or two should be sold to somewhat make amends. Shatter has requested such funding, yet it appears not a penny has been shared. Why is the tax-payer paying for the sins of the Catholic church?
Because Bertie and his cronies were such good Catholics.
Granted Joseph.
But as my mother says
The rest of the feckers in Leinster house over the year had a mouth on them as well and they said feck all about this travesty.
Imagine some of today’s fine leaders used to drive by slave camps everyday on their way into the Dail and think nothing wrong of it.
The Magdelane Laundry closed in 1996.
The “last” Magdelane Laundry closed in 1996.
Anyway.
As recent events have illustrated, Ireland’s fine leaders think nothing of abusing/enslaving their people in one way or another.
Money will never replace what the establishment took from them.
Pittance
Paddy power got most of my mums compo already.
I am not sure if there is anything I hate more than the catholic church for what it did to those children. Not only is what happened devastating, but those who covered it up and facilitated its continuance for so long are as bad as the abusers themselves. Those that then choose to recognise and support such an institution today really make me wonder what is wrong with them. Why would/could anybody support an organisation that did this to innocent children!? What is wrong with people? You people really do make me feel ill.
I concur with everything you say John Q . The disconcerting thing is that a catholic task force of laypeople and clergy has been set up to
Spread disinformation and lies about the extent of the abuse. Their mantra is to Deny ! Deny ! Deny ! At all costs any accusations against the church irrespective of the truth or source of the information. On the flip side there seems to be other groups of clergy mainly in the states who have set up support groups for clergy whistle blowers. http://www.catholicwhistleblowers.com
Didn’t these women have families too?
We’re all angry here at the state paying for church sins which is fair enough but the irish press also know as the journal gives the Church sinners a constant platform to spout their moral shite through their two spin offs, the immigrant council of ireland and the migrant council who in turn produced the mens development network. So for every one story such as the horrors that these woman suffered the irish press will act as an online broadsheet to spread the good shepherds words
Actually, you are full of shite!
The RCC should be made to pay? Look at the wealth that it has, The RCC can afford to pay..
I’m sickened and apaulled by what went on and the cover up of these poor children and Adults.
@Trevor Beacom, What are you on about?! The immigrant council of ireland and The migrant council have nothing to do with the good sheperd magdeline laundry..?
You are entitled to your opinion about those two councils but they serve a genuine and legitimate purpose; just because you disagree with that purpose why must you spread your shite talk in unrelated articles?
And your name is?
My name is irrelevant. Why do you ask, will knowing my name help you to explain your previous comment?
You know only too well the links between the groups. Pretending that they dont exist is silly. Every eci and mci article which appear here I will publish proof of the links
Still no one is asking why were the London Women’s Group Given €250,000 at the Commissioning of the Quirke Report!
Was this to seek endorsement of the Macalese Report and ensure Compliance with the Quirke findings on Redress?
Shatter certainly compromised this situation by doing this!
My mother spent a couple of years in the Magdalene Laundry in Limerick as well as her entire childhood in the Irish state workhouses and they are telling her that they cannot find her records.
Wait for the vaccine test programmes that were run in these places to come into the spotlight. Humam medical trails without informed consent. That is going to cost.
Sadly the Commission into Child Abuse was stopped from investigating this by the Welcome Trust now part of GSK. There will be no report or Compensation on this.
The Government commissioned a Report that washed the Religious Whiter than a Magdalene Laundry Sheet!
They got the Report they paid for absolving the Nuns and phasing the burden squarely on the State and Tax Payer AGAIN!
have your say