When you hear the term national treasure used to refer to someone who has just passed, it is usually exaggeration of the worst kind. In the case of Maeve Binchy however, it is correct. ....She was a national treasure of Ireland and much more; hilarious, profane, an incredible friend, and a hugely talented writer....
I knew her but not very well. Years ago I hosted a dinner for her and her beloved husband, Gordon Snell. They were just embarking on the literary career that brought her huge fame and fortune and I did what I could to make sure Irish Americans knew all about her.
It was not much, but she never forgot that small act I did for her. Every year without fail would come a Christmas card with a letter, not just any letter but a warm personal one full of details of her year, questions about how I was doing and always, an invitation to come see them when in Ireland.......
She told one of the most hilarious stories I have ever heard. Maeve was a large woman and she described being invited to the White House to meet Barbara Bush who was a huge fan. Barbara had two tiny corgis at the time and they were wild, galloping round the First Lady and Maeve as they sat and talked.
As I remember it, when Maeve got up, she accidentally stepped on one of them, leading to a scene of mass confusion and mayhem as the barely injured pooch was attended to. Maeve left me in tears of laughter at her description of the scene. Like in her books, she was a marvelous storyteller.
She loved cats and called one Prionsias (Gaelic for Frank) after the then Workers Party leader Prionsias De Rossa -- she showed me a picture of her tabby and there was clearly a massive resemblance. It would make a cat laugh. She had a way of telling a story.
Binchy's books included Circle of Friends (1990) and Tara Road (1998) ,just two of her works which were after made into movies.
It was not much, but she never forgot that small act I did for her. Every year without fail would come a Christmas card with a letter, not just any letter but a warm personal one full of details of her year, questions about how I was doing and always, an invitation to come see them when in Ireland.......
She told one of the most hilarious stories I have ever heard. Maeve was a large woman and she described being invited to the White House to meet Barbara Bush who was a huge fan. Barbara had two tiny corgis at the time and they were wild, galloping round the First Lady and Maeve as they sat and talked.
As I remember it, when Maeve got up, she accidentally stepped on one of them, leading to a scene of mass confusion and mayhem as the barely injured pooch was attended to. Maeve left me in tears of laughter at her description of the scene. Like in her books, she was a marvelous storyteller.
She loved cats and called one Prionsias (Gaelic for Frank) after the then Workers Party leader Prionsias De Rossa -- she showed me a picture of her tabby and there was clearly a massive resemblance. It would make a cat laugh. She had a way of telling a story.
Binchy's books included Circle of Friends (1990) and Tara Road (1998) ,just two of her works which were after made into movies.
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