Every homage to the departed Irish author Edna O’Brien has cited the words ‘banned’ and ‘burned’. The infamous account of her first book The Country Girls being publicly condemned and allegedly incinerated in her birthplace, Tuamgraney in County Clare, forms a striking narrative. Still, it is just a part of a much longer and convoluted story.
In the early 1960s, it was evident how she felt about her hometown after her initial novel was prohibited. As she stated to The Guardian in 1962, “Often do I ponder why Cromwell, when he declared ‘To hell or to Connaught’, passed over Clare”.
Moreover, she didn’t feel well received in the capital, Dublin, where the censorship committee proceeded to ban her subsequent two books. Political and religious dignitaries lined up to judge the sexual impressions in her works.
Yet, according to the East Clare locals, the most convenient way to spot O’Brien in her later years was to look for her at the Sunday Mass in that same village church. She had to leave her home to write about it, but those close to her assert that her heart was always in Tuamgraney. Her deep affection for her hometown and its inhabitants was reciprocated fully.
In 2009, a plaque, with an inscription in O’Brien’s own handwriting, was commissioned by the Tuamgraney Development Association and placed at the front of her family home in Drewsborough. O’Brien herself unveiled the plaque which said, “Tuamgraney, dwelling of my dwelling and source of my stories.” Clare County Council honoured her memory by renaming the nearby Scariff library as the Edna O’Brien library earlier this year.
O’Brien’s nephew, Michael Blake, states that she took great pride in her birthplace and always retained a strong connection. Blake, a chief official for the Irish show jumping team at the Paris Olympics, mentions that O’Brien always wanted to be laid to rest on Holy Island in Lough Derg. “The plaque erected by the local community greatly honoured her. She cherished it immensely,” he informs.
“She was truly thrilled with the library concept. On hearing the idea, she took a moment to ponder, but on repeating it, she embraced it instantly.
Every encounter we had, she would mention her wish for a burial in Clare, it was an obsession for her. Her heart was set on returning home to Tuamgraney for her final rest in the sacred Holy Island.
Approximately a decade ago, her visit to Holy Island, where she stumbled upon her Uncle Michael Cleary’s gravesite, a victim of the 1922 Troubles, left a deep impression on her. That visit affirmed her desire to be laid to rest there, a wish she voiced often afterwards.
Like many of her contemporaries, O’Brien had to leave her homeland to be able to write about it effectively. Blake affirms that she bore no regrets in this decision, the path to success as a writer, or as a runner or a showjumper, necessitates leaving Ireland.
Tuamgraney, her childhood home, still held her heart despite her distance. Her choice to write about it came from a place of distance and perspective. Her returns home were characterised by leisurely strolls around Tuamgraney and Scariff, seeking out interactions with locals, an activity she treasured most.
Damien Heaney, chair of Tuamgraney Development Association, who played a key role in commemorating O’Brien with a plaque in 2009, also campaigned for the acquisition of O’Brien’s family home at Drewsborough, currently in private hands, by the local authorities.
The State’s decision not to purchase Drewsborough, he felt, was a lost chance. “A fitting tribute to an individual should be made whilst they are still amongst us, not posthumously when they are none the wiser,” he said.”
Edna’s contribution to the plaque was substantial, proposing the phrase and providing the inscription in her unique script. On the evening it was revealed, she appeared particularly chuffed that we remembered her, despite the multiple global acknowledgements she had received. Returning to her beginnings, she was immensely moved that we would go to the extent of installing it, which was a simple act on our part.
Several of us from the vicinity had proposed acquiring the dwelling and transforming it into a hub for study and literature. Though we were nothing more than a spontaneous assembly of individuals unable to buy a property, we agreed it was a missed chance. Anyhow, it was a solid proposal. We could even arrange a summer school, attracting various authors and arranging a literary fest around Edna O’Brien’s residence, muses Heaney. He voices his gratification at the successful installation of the plaque and renaming of the library during her lifetime.
Edna O’Brien has, since 2012, held the honorary position of president of the Tuamgraney Community Weekend, a modest local celebration held each July in her birthplace. In 2013, during the year of the Gathering, O’Brien joined countless returning Irish diaspora, reconnecting with her homeland.
Her support for the festival was tremendous, O’Brien often took a moment to mull over our requests before responding affirmatively, shares Margaret O’Meara, a former participant in the Tuamgraney Community Weekend. O’Brien still perceived it as home, frequently visiting, especially when her sister was alive and housed her during visits. She would pop by a couple of times each year and could be spotted in Mass or visiting acquaintances.
The populace is tremendously affected by O’Brien’s passing. She was an integral part of Tuamgraney, making countless contributions to the world. There is an immense sense of dignity. I’ve resided here for multiple decades, and I’ve always harboured this feeling of pride for Edna.
Throughout the past twelve months, Clare County Council has endeavoured to pay tribute to Edna O’Brien. Actions taken by the local authority, including renaming the Scariff library and commissioning a colossal mural in the heart of Ennis, have all been part of honouring her.
Siobhán Mulcahy, Clare’s arts officer, declares the county’s pride in O’Brien and states that additional tributes will be considered for the future. She explains the need to be patient with commemorations to allow for an even more befitting tribute to take place at the right time.
While refraining from commenting on not purchasing O’Brien’s house, Mulcahy suggests other potential ways to honour her that might be more suitable. It is undeniable that O’Brien, like many gifted Irish people from her era, maintained a complicated relationship with Ireland and likewise.
Michael Blake, O’Brien’s nephew, remarks that you need to pass away in Ireland to be considered a hero, highlighting the lack of living individuals who are celebrated as martyrs. This sentiment reflects the complexities of O’Brien’s relationship with her homeland.