Frank McCourt - in his own words
Some memorable quotes from the late Limerick author Frank McCourt.
ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH LIMERICK: "There's something about coming back to Limerick that's very moving – I've had such a turbulent relationship with the city. The city doesn't know it. It's what I had to write about when I finally started writing after teaching for 30 years. I had to get it out of my system, but you never do. People say it's a catharsis, but it's not. Look at me – I'm back here again."
ON HIS IMPRESSIONS OF THE 'NEW' LIMERICK: "I wander around in this state of awe over the changes in the place. I delight at the new atmosphere and freedom; it seems like a very youthful city – buoyant, optimistic, bursting with energy. I envy the people
who are young and growing up in this city. I would have loved to have grown up in a city like this."
ON ANGELA'S ASHES: "I wouldn't have been satisfied if I hadn't written Angela's Ashes – that was the one thing I wanted to do. I would have died howling if I hadn't written it, and asked God for just one more year."
ON THE CONTROVERSY: "Of course you embellish and of course, you have fill in the blank spots of conversation. Nobody can argue with me, because these things happened in my family and these things happened in my head. There were things that happened to me which were beyond anyone's understanding or experience, so it's my story. They can argue as much as they like but I wouldn't dare intrude on their story."
ON LIFE AFTER HIS FIRST MEMOIR: "My life is like something out of a movie. I wrote Angela's Ashes and, boom, my life changed overnight. I have money for the first time in my life."
ON HAPPINESS: "Like everyone else I think I succumb to misery and emotional gravity from time to time. The world gets me down and certain parts of my life are not completely satisfactory. But I have a lot to be thankful for."
ON WRITING: "There was only one Muhammad Ali in the ring and other people tried to imitate him, but it didn't work. Don't try to write. Just scribble, scribble, scribble. If it demands it, it will be born. It will come."
ON DEATH: "I wouldn't like to be incapacitated, or handicapped, or die of a slow disease. I don't want to be beholden to anyone or have anyone wiping my mouth if I'm drooling. I'd just like to go. I don't want funeral services or memorials. Let them scatter my ashes over the Shannon and pollute the river."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Limerick
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 13 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
