Brian Behan

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Brian Behan
Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Died2 October 2002(2002-10-02) (aged 75)
Children5, including Janet Behan
ParentsStephen Behan (father)
Kathleen Behan (mother)
Relatives
(uncle)

Brian Behan (

trade unionist
.

Early years

Behan was born in Dublin, the son of Stephen Behan and Kathleen Behan (née Kearney), nephew of Peadar Kearney (author of Amhrán na bhFiann, the Irish National Anthem), younger brother of Brendan Behan and older brother of Dominic Behan. He is the father of the playwright and actress Janet Behan, journalist Rosemary Behan,[1] writer and musician Ruth Behan,[2] musician and poet Daniel Tobias Behan.[3] and Linsey Jane Behan, solicitor.

After being caught stealing money from the gas meter of a neighbour (an act he later tended to gloss over – describing it as "some minor trouble"), he was sent to what was effectively a penal institution, the Artane Industrial School, which could be described as a reformatory. Behan later claimed he was systematically abused at Artane; investigations into the school later found widespread instances of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Behan applied for and was posthumously awarded damages for the abuse – though he never fully recovered and would never return permanently to Ireland after leaving, as was the case with many victims of similar mistreatment.[4]

After Behan was released from Artane School he joined the Irish Army's construction corps.[5]

Move to England and politics

In 1950, Behan moved to London to work as a

go-slow on the Festival of Britain construction site.[5]

Behan then joined the

The Club, who were active in the Labour Party. He quickly became the group's secretary, and in 1958, he wrote his first work, Socialists and the Trade Unions.[7]

In 1958, Behan obtained work on the

Socialist Labour League (SLL).[8] Behan became increasingly uneasy about SLL leader Gerry Healy's control of the organisation, and was also concerned that Healy was reluctant to cut ties with the Labour Party. In May 1960, he was expelled from the group, along with a few supporters.[9] Behan then founded a short-lived "Workers' Party", which published Workers' Voice[10] and was active in support of the 1966 seamen's strike.[11]

Writer and lecturer

In 1964, Behan wrote his first piece on his family life, With Breast Expanded. Forced to give up building work due to an arm injury, he moved to live on a boat in

London College of Printing.[6] In 1972, he contested a swearing match at the British Museum, to mark the republication of Robert Graves' Lars Porsena.[5]

Turning increasingly to writing, Behan completed Time To Go in 1979, Mother of All The Behans in 1984, Kathleen in 1988, these last two inspired by his family life.

Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn; a promised West End
production failed to materialise, however, when the financier fell from a balcony.

In 1989, he retired from teaching and moved to

naturist beach, and worked on a number of plays, most of which were staged in the town. In the years before his death, his then-burgeoning acting career expanded to include a number of television commercials, and a short skit for MTV, where he portrayed an aged Keith Flint (frontman for electronic band The Prodigy).[5]

Further reading

With Breast Expanded. London: MacGibbon & Kee, 1964.[12]

References

  1. ISSN 0140-0460
    . Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  2. ^ "We interview Ruth Behan, whose writing will feature in Common People: an anthology of working class writers". Literature Works SW - Nurturing literature development activity in South West England. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Wombwell Rainbow Interviews: Daniel Tobias Behan". The Wombwell Rainbow. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  4. ^ Chapter 7, St. Joseph's Industrial School, Artane ('Artane'), 1870–1969, Section 7.01, Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
  5. ^ a b c d "Obituaries: Brian Behan", The Daily Telegraph
  6. ^ a b c "Obituary: Brian Behan", The Guardian
  7. ^ a b "Obituary: Brian Behan", The Independent
  8. ^ Jim Higgins, "1956 and All That"
  9. ^ The Rise and Fall of Gerry Healy
  10. ^ Cliff Slaughter, "What is Revolutionary Leadership?"
  11. ^ Foulser, George, 1920–1975
  12. ^ "With Breast Expanded".
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