Theatre

Sara Keating: Brendan Behan remembered on the centenary of his birth

A series of cultural productions celebrate the earthy Dublin writer’s legacy

Irish author and playwright Brendan Behan (1923-1964) singing at the Fitzroy Tavern in London in 1956. Picture: Getty

This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the birth of Brendan Behan. Born in February 1923, at the tail end of the Irish Civil War, the writer’s early life was marked by the turbulence of the nascent Irish state.

His family was staunchly republican, with a long history of involvement in the fight for Irish independence. His granny sewed uniforms for the Irish Volunteers. His uncle, Peadar Kearney, wrote the lyrics to Amhrán na bhFiann. ...