THE LOVES OF MY LIFE
Brendan Grace
The person Eileen Doyle. Because when I met this wonderful woman in the Talbot Hotel Wexford, on Whit weekend, 1972, a glowing light came on in my life. And it turned out to be the lighthouse that continues to guide me The memory That memory will always be of my mam and dad coming into the Coombe hospital on October 18, 1975, the morning after our first daughter, Amanda, was born. They were ecstatic The moment of the day One o’clock — dinner time. Not lunch time, dinner time. Lunch hadn’t been invented. When I was a youngster, my ma would have the dinner ready when I came in from school — which was literally around the corner — on my break. I loved me grub The song It has to be The Voyage, written by Limerick man Johnny Duhan. Listen to the words! It says it all The outfit My confirmation outfit. A lovely school blazer, with the James’s Street Christian Brothers crest, and a cap to match. ‘Bottler’, I hear you mutter! The movie Darby O’Gill and the Little People. It was the first picture I saw as a child. I watched it in amazement at the Regal Rooms in Hawkins Street, Dublin, with my mam and dad. My own kids, and now my grandchildren, have been enthralled with it ever since The hero I have a few in mind, including, on a tragic note, my friend, the late Detective Garda Jerry McCabe; but the great Ronnie Delany was my earliest hero, as he ran into everyone’s heart in the Olympics all those years ago The book Bio-Energy Healing by Michael O’Doherty. It has taught me so much about my body and my well-being. I’m actually not a book reader, and never was. I’ve read every edition of Ireland’s Own consistently since I was a teenager The accessory The big neck-chain cross I wore when I played the very sarcastic Father Fintan Stack in the now legendary Father Ted episode, with the late lamented Dermot Morgan and Frank Kelly. I still have it. Watch out, people, Stack may be back! The gadget My first transistor radio. I fondly remember, in October 1971, I was packing my case for a three-week gig in Toronto, and, as I packed away my transistor, my dear, innocent mother said, ‘Will that pick up Radio Eireann over in Canada, son?’ The pet hate It has to be steak-and-kidney pies, and chicken pies. Apple pies, jam doughnuts, cream cakes and ham sandwiches, in not all, but most, vendors here in Ireland . . . with skimpy, miserable content. And we don’t complain. Sometimes I’m glad I’m a diabetic The friend Well, my best friend is Eileen, and while I have some friends in the true sense, my best mate is Pat Dooley, and his lovely wife Theresa, in Knocklong, Co Limerick The beauty product How about Polyfilla? Seriously though, many is the time my daughters would ask for some of my rouge or panstick . . . yes, I’m a man who uses face make-up. Ouch! The piece of advice My dad told me many times: the bird that died in the bog thought there was no dry land. Simply put: go for it, and I did just that The holiday It has to be in 1977, in America, when Amanda was two, and Eileen was expecting Melanie. I took my mam and dad and Eileen’s dad, Paddy, and mam, Lily, along too. I had a few gigs there in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, and those photos are treasured always The drink That’s obvious — Guinness. It was born and bred, just like me, in The Liberties! The hotel It’s The Talbot Hotel in Wexford, where we met; and nowadays, it’s Brooks Hotel in Dublin, because it is owned by Charlie Sinnott, who was manager at the Talbot all those years ago . . . blame him, Mrs Grace! The bar O’Reillys in Hawkins Street, Dublin. It was where my dad, Seamus, worked for many years, right opposite the famous Theatre Royal, and because the ushers would get pints from Seamus, we got free admission to all the fabulous shows. I got see Danny Kaye, Liberace, Jack Benny, and a host of stars. I even got to be on stage there myself, when I was about nine, to kick a ball to the legendary Mickser Reid The hobby I’m an avid flyer. I’ve always had a passion for helicopters. In fact, on our wedding day, I hired one to take us from the airport chapel to the reception in the Dublin mountains. My tour manager, Brian, and my son, Bradley, are helicopter pilots, too. Even my mother-in-law used to be a test pilot . . . in a broom factory Part of the body It’s got to be my stomach, because I love food . . . in fact, I wouldn’t eat anything else The celebrity Beautiful Maureen O’Hara. The first true film star in Ireland. I was honoured to have been her friend for 12 years, up to her sad passing. All of her costumes and memorabilia have been bequeathed to the wonderful Margaret O’Shaughnessy in Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime museum. Such a treasure The virtue I’m a bird feeder. Everywhere I go, I feed sparrows and all small birds. A robin always comes to me for food, and I believe it is my guardian angel watching over me The vice I’m a post-office-aholic. I love sending cards and packages, so I spend a lot of time in post-office queues. I’m also certain that the Irish post-office delivery service is the best in the world, by far The smell It has to be the cooking aroma of a Dublin coddle. It’s so appetising. Even Neven Maguire begged me for my personal recipe. My son, Brendan, and my grandsons, Aiden, James and Patrick, in Boston, prefer it to steak The taste The sweet taste of contentment. It’s a glorious feeling, especially when I look back down the years, through ups and some downs. I’m now in a great place, with no regrets. Go maith ar fad