Dominic Behan (/ˈbiË É™n/ BEE-É™n; Irish: Doiminic Ã" Beacháin; 22
October 1928 â€" 3 August 1989) was an Irish songwriter, singer, short
story writer, novelist and playwright who wrote in Irish and English.
He was also a socialist and an Irish republican. Born into the
literary Behan family (brother being Brendan Behan), Dominic Behan was
one of the most influential Irish songwriters of the
20th-century.Behan was born in inner-city Dublin into an educated
working-class family. His father, Stephen Behan, fought for the Irish
Republican Army (IRA) in the Anglo-Irish War. Dominic was the brother
of Brendan Behan. His mother, Kathleen, a collector of songs and
stories, took the boys on literary tours of the city. Behan's maternal
uncle, Peadar Kearney, wrote "A Soldier's Song", the song the Irish
National Anthem was based on. Another brother, Brian was also a
playwright and writer.At the age of thirteen, Dominic left school to
follow in his father's footsteps in the housepainting business. The
family house in which Behan lived was the property of Christine
English, Dominic's grandmother, who owned several properties in the
city. His father Stephen was a member of the IRA and had been one of
Michael Collins' "Twelve Apostles", who were responsible for the
deaths of several officers from the British Army during the Irish War
of Independence. He was banned from a professional future career for
refusing to swear allegiance to the British Crown during the war of
independence.
October 1928 â€" 3 August 1989) was an Irish songwriter, singer, short
story writer, novelist and playwright who wrote in Irish and English.
He was also a socialist and an Irish republican. Born into the
literary Behan family (brother being Brendan Behan), Dominic Behan was
one of the most influential Irish songwriters of the
20th-century.Behan was born in inner-city Dublin into an educated
working-class family. His father, Stephen Behan, fought for the Irish
Republican Army (IRA) in the Anglo-Irish War. Dominic was the brother
of Brendan Behan. His mother, Kathleen, a collector of songs and
stories, took the boys on literary tours of the city. Behan's maternal
uncle, Peadar Kearney, wrote "A Soldier's Song", the song the Irish
National Anthem was based on. Another brother, Brian was also a
playwright and writer.At the age of thirteen, Dominic left school to
follow in his father's footsteps in the housepainting business. The
family house in which Behan lived was the property of Christine
English, Dominic's grandmother, who owned several properties in the
city. His father Stephen was a member of the IRA and had been one of
Michael Collins' "Twelve Apostles", who were responsible for the
deaths of several officers from the British Army during the Irish War
of Independence. He was banned from a professional future career for
refusing to swear allegiance to the British Crown during the war of
independence.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.