Huge Turnout For John Arden Book Launch

national | arts and media | news report Saturday November 07, 2009 18:11 by Fred Johnston - Western Writers' Centre, Galway westernwriters at eircom dot net

Politicians, writers and friends at Galway City Museum

Renowned playwright and novelist John Arden celebratesthe launch of a new book and his entry into his 80th year

John Arden and Fintan O'Toole before the launch

Irish Times columnist and commentator, Fintan O'Toole launched John Arden's collection of stories, 'Gallows and Other Tales of Suspicion and Obsession,' before a capacity crowd at the restaurant of Galway City Museum this afternoon. He spoke of the impact of 'The Non-Stop Connolly Show,' and of Arden's radical sense of theatre running through most of his work. How, he wondered, was his work not better celebrated in his native England? The launch was accompanied by a display of Arden's drawings. Among those attending were politicians and artists, such as Liz McDonnell, Michael D. Higgins, Catherine Connolly (Cllr.) publishers, academics and writers such as playwright Patricia Burke Brogan, poet Knute Skinner and Eva Bourke and Rita Ann Higgins and Fred Johnston. John Arden thanked a number of people who had helped bring the project together, including his partner Margaretta D'Arcy, his son Finn (whose short documentary on Arden accompanies the novel on DVD) and Sylvia Crawford, whose harp music is on the DVD. Lelia Doolin spoke and introduced the arrival of a birthday cake! There was mention by actor and director Eamonn Draper of putting on 'Serjeant Musgrave's Dance' in Irish, and Draper called for the play to be done again and now. Many in the audience had travelled considerable distances to attend, from Dublin and from England, and some old friends of John Arden from his Cambridge days were also there. Thanks was extended to Breandán O hEaghra, Director of the Museum, for his work on the event.

Finn Arden, Margaretta D'Arcy (hidden), John Arden and Lelia Doolin