January 2024

I’m at a loss today.

My friend Comtesse Joan de Frenay has died. She was 103 .. and seven months. We had a curious bond.

Daughter of a Shakespearean actress who'd worked with Sir Henry Irving, Joan studied at Trinity College before World War 11. She became fascinated by the city's artistic bohemian demi-monde. “It was fun," she told me. "Everyone was drunk all the time."

Joan’s rebellious lifestyle made Shane MacGowan and Pete Doherty seem like characters from Mary Poppins. She lived in a room over the infamous late night Dublin basement shebeen that was dubbed “The Catacombs” by J.P. Donleavy.

"Dickie, who ran the place, had Gainor Crist, the prototype for The Ginger Man, staying in the Pink Parlour. Brendan (Behan) sometimes slept in the Snug. There was a party every night. You would have loved it.”

And Patrick Kavanagh? Another friend. “He had a heart of gold. He was very sensitive and wrote beautiful poetry.”

Joan had been a member of an esoteric group with AE (George Russell) so, in 1985, not long after her husband’s death, I took her to the unveiling of a bust of the poet/mystic in Merrion Square Park. Joan was in no rush. “He was such a bore,” she chimed of AE.

“What?” said I, disappointed.

“Not like that chap, Brendan.”

It turned out, Joan had entered the kitchen on the morning after her wedding to Peter to find Behan asleep on the kitchen table. He was stark naked.

A cousin of scholar and essayist Arland Ussher, Joan was a painter and an expert on the Tarot.

I was with her last week and, although the end was approaching, she was bright, sharp and mischievous as ever. Remarkable, really. I brought her a copy of Foundation Song, which contains a poem, Horseman, dedicated to Joan and inspired by her wisdom and our adventures together. It’s of some comfort to know it was appreciated and that her friends read it to her during her final few days.

Last week, we laughed together and kissed for the last time. She was a marvellous person. Magical, really.

At least spring is on the way.

It’s not far off.

Eamon.