Spelling It Out

Essay in honour of Brian Friel

Both Seamus Heaney and Brian Friel have died since the publication of Spelling It Out.

It was, in 2009, as Seamus Heaney wrote ‘a personal essay in honour of our greatest playwright, Brian Friel, on his 80th birthday.’ It includes tender recollection and highly critical observation.

‘. . . I thought it worth the risk to spell out some of the things we know and love and value about Brian by focussing on the letters of his name . . .’