The Percy French Society in Roscommon

The Percy French Society of Roscommon was conceived as far back as 1957 when a week-long summer festival was held by the then committee at Cloonyquinn House (see image opposite), the ancestral home of Percy French. Committee members were Robbie Kilgallon (Chairman), John Finnerty (Secretary), James Kelly, Jim Dalton, Michael Flannagan, Frankie Rushe and Mehaul Beirne. Another concert was held the following year. They showcased French’s songs, poetry and paintings (and also saw the launch of the late Brendan O’Dowda’s musical career). Their successes inspired many events both in Ireland and abroad.

With a fund seeded by the money raised at the two festivals, the committee established a Percy French Scholarship that is open to pupils local to Cloonyquinn; in 1967 the first award was made. Additional annual funding is provided by Killina Parish. The award is made every six years.

The society’s work and continuing renown encouraged the use, for the first time, of the Cloonyquinn man’s name on a building in Strokestown, the Percy French Hotel; in 1967, a large mural depicting the stages and facets of French’s life was completed there by the local artist Bernie Harris Chapman. An international poetry festival is held there every May bank holiday weekend commemorating the poet’s lasting legacy. In 1970 the society’s founding members organised a Percy French concert at the old Amethyst Ballroom, Elphin, with Brendan O’Dowda again taking the leading role. The current chairman of The Percy French Society, Fr. Francis Beirne, together with The Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society, unveiled a memorial to Percy French on the site of Cloonyquinn House in 1984. Evenings and concerts continued unabated in Roscommon, and on May 1st, 2004, a grand celebration was organised to mark the 150th year of the poet’s birth with major events throughout the county, and an exhibition in King House, Boyle, brought over 30 of his watercolours under one roof for the first time ever.

As part of our commitment to supporting a range of cultural events throughout the county , Roscommon County Council Library Services are delighted to be associated with The Percy French Summer School.

We believe the school to be a significant step in the continuing effort to have Percy French’s contribution to art, literature and the world of entertainment fully appreciated.

This school can provide an opportunity to further the recognition of French’s life and works, to inspire future events, study and research, and to help to perpetuate the memory and status of this remarkable man both nationally and internationally.

Roscommon County Council Library Services