Monk Gibbon, originally named William Monk Gibbon when he was born in December 1896, was a prolific author widely read for his poetry, novels, travel chronicles, biographies and critiques of literature. The son of a Protestant clergyman, his fame may have waned slightly in recent times, but he maintained his writing and teaching careers well into his last years.
His education began at St Columba’s College in Rathfarnham and continued into his years at Keble College, Oxford. It was disrupted when World War 1 erupted. Gibbon enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps and took up duties as a transport officer beyond the front lines in France.
On a leave in Dublin, he bore witness to the unfolding of the Easter Rising and held one of the last conversations with pacifist Francis Sheehy Skeffington before his tragic execution at what we now know as Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines. The execution had a profound effect on Gibbon, who was struck by the dignified demeanor of Skeffington. The sight of Skeffington’s body being transported away post-execution left Gibbon appalled and sorrowful. Further, the execution of James Connolly swayed Gibbon’s sympathies toward the republicans, leading him to identify himself as “half a Sinn Féiner”.
Gibbon’s time in the military was marked by evolving phases of initial keenness, which slowly faded into disillusionment and bitterness. Reflecting in later years, he critiqued the “immeasurable wastefulness and stupidity” that war usually leads to.
After the war, Gibbon admitted to leading a “relaxed life”, studied farming on the island of Jersey, and later entered the teaching profession at a small boys’ boarding academy in North Wales. Gibbon recalled the school’s declaration of being “a place of learning for the Sons of Gentlemen” in one his memoirs.
The relentless requirements of Gibbon’s professional role often left him feeling swamped. By consistently reading periodicals such as the Irish Statesman, he would stay informed about events in Ireland. Known for editing by George Russell (AE), Gibbon was an occasional contributor to the weekly journal, with it offering a reprieve from his regular duties, allowing him to immerse himself in a more “compatible world”.
Following his time in Wales, Gibbon embarked on a teaching experience at the Château-d’Oex based in Switzerland. For his poetry, he was recognised with a silver accolade at the 1928 Tailteann Games. In the same year, he wed Mabel Winifred Dingwall. By the onset of the 1930s, he transitioned to teaching at a Dorset-based school located in Swanage. His time abroad equipped him with a vast array of experiences, which later fed into his myriad of books, several of which were autobiographical in nature, like his 1935 book ‘The Seals’ which covers his visit to Arranmore, off Donegal’s coastline, and his encounters with seal culling. His 1968 book, ‘Inglorious Soldier’, highlighted his personal experiences of World War One triggering his moral uncertainty.
He penned books centring around figures such as Yeats and AE, but among his entire literary repertoire, Gibbon believed Mount Ida as his peak accomplishment. The book, with more than 470 pages covers his life in Wales, Rome, and beyond, has been referred to as an autobiographical novel emphasising on love.
He asserted that he dedicated seven or eight years on the project, and expressed appreciation for his wife’s consistent support and enthusiasm that helped him see it through to completion. Interestingly, Jawaharlal Nehru, the former Indian Prime Minister, reportedly kept a copy of the book on his bedside table.
Many of Gibbon’s contemporaries held his poetry in high regard; Padraic Colum, for instance, believed that he didn’t get the public acclamation he deserved for his verses. Katharine Tynan mentioned that Gibbon’s poems carried a ‘quiet force and distinction’.
Eavan Boland, in more recent times, hailed Gibbon’s work for being devoid of the trivial aspects that beleaguers much of contemporary poetry. Boland argued that the over arching theme in all his written work, both prose and poetry, was rooted in the persona of the “dispossessed romantic”.
After the memorial service for the revered Irish literary patriarch which took place in November 1987 at St Paul’s Church, Glenageary, Bruce Arnold pointed out that Gibbon’s residence on Sandycove Road was a constant sanctuary for authors.
His domicile, conveniently located a brief stroll from Joyce’s Martello turret, was famous for his Sunday evening congregations that brought together an assorted group of artistic minds. Among the notable figures in attendance were the actor Micheál Mac Liammóir and Ninette de Valois, a dancer hailing from Wicklow. Gibbon was particularly respected for his support and mentorship of novice authors.
His remains rest in the graveyard of St Nahi’s Church, Dundrum, the same location where his father officiated as the parish rector of Taney for over three decades. Etched on his tombstone is the phrase “sing in that scented night, invisibly, and as you always do”, a line borrowed from one of his composed poem.