Brendan Behan Interview, Ireland 1964

[@valkyriehutton4556]

As an Irish-American, I sadly just discovered this man. He was amazing and did great things. I feel bad that he lost his life to alcoholism.

[@paulwilliams2663]

I'm Irish scouser (liverpool)...but these giants of Ireland everywhere, politically Big Jim Larkin is legendary

[@SunnyBuoy1]

Agreed the disease is a brute but looking through the obvious it is pretty cool how you still see the artist well observed 👍

[@words4dyslexicon]

​@@SunnyBuoy1 yes, same with Bukowski, his poems are alive, like songs..

[@standroid64]

A great writer and a true legend! 🇮🇪

[@standroid64]

​@@paulwilliams2663 B B is still a fookin' legend!

[@chrisflakus8681]

Sad to watch such a hero bent, but unbroken near the end. Brilliant writer and great Irishman!

[@JamesNames-yo3ou]

We all die, randomly, at some point. "I'll tell you this! I'm gonna get my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames!" - Morrison

[@kenoneill8783]

*If this is 1964 then he had only weeks to live here, as he died on the 20th of March that year. He looks completely out if it, very sad to see.*

[@tweegeTX3]

He’s 41 years old at the time of filming this video, and he died a few weeks afterward.

[@yonago999]

Brendan isn't drunk in this clip, as many commenters here believe, but suffering from brain damage which his untreated diabetes caused and which killed him not long after. The diabetes was brought about by his alcoholism. It's sad that when he was in hospital many 'friends' thought they were doing him a favour by secretly bringing drink to him.

[@SunnyBuoy1]

agreed sad but relative to the times ....We have come a long way since those times but are we any better off I wonder as our country gets flooded and overwhelmed by hundreds of thousands of undocumented fakeugees and cultures and religions that we do not understand and what is left of our culture from the British invasion times is diluted like water to whiskey ? Ah to hell with it "can I have another Pint John please and what ever the quare fellas having ..."

[@maineroad7429]

Sad viewing I found it’s near the end for him. What a talent he was. .

[@stacyblue1980]

I must say- He reminds me of some people Ive known thru the years. His face. I am almost teary eyed. Ive always loved his works. God Bless Ireland. My Grandmothers' Country. And God Bless the Indian Nations. ♥ My Papa. ♥~ Love From America ♥

[@jimmymalone9139]

He died in 60s you dope

[@RichardDunnisainmdom]

@@jimmymalone9139 Yeah, probably within days of this being filmed, you dope.

[@drohegda]

That old triangle went jingle jangle all along the banks of the royal canal 👍👍🇨🇮 Brenda was one of our great literary minds.

[@johnmc3862]

When he arrived into the US someone asked him, ‘What do you think of New York! It will be grand when it’s finished!’ he said.

[@JamesNames-yo3ou]

😆 Old York!

[@GkPhotographic]

We are a Grand race , on a Grant Island . thank you , it means a lot to the ordinary citizen , to see these great content you search for.

[@freebornjohn2687]

The only story I know of Brendan Behan and correct me if I'm wrong - was that no matter how drunk he was he could always tell the time. When I got drunk I could always remember what happened but I lost the power of speech.

[@TrueBlueEG8]

Such a fine line between genius and a madman, this man stayed on the genius side of the line in my opinion, but it was fairly close :)

[@davidh7126]

Quite a resemblance to Sean Penn, Penn almost did a movie as behan in 1996 but pulled out. Seems like it would have been a good fit

[@disprogreavette8545]

Looks even more similar to Sean's (now deceased) brother Chris Penn.

[@kenoneill8783]

*Ironic you should say Penn pulled out, he'd intended to have a tooth or teeth pulled out for real for the role, method acting to the extreme.*

[@billparrish9200]

He would never have got the accent right. Very difficult for an American to do north Dublin convincingly.

[@eachwaythief6132]

Penn is not in the same league.

[@Sallybugs]

My father lodged with Brendan’s mother, Kathleen after the war and saw the family, including Brendan, all the time. He says it was the happiest time he’d had in life at that point. Dad had Republican sympathies, as did I but they lost it after them targeting civilians instead of their usual targets. Dad always said we’d visit but we never had the money. 😢

[@georgel74]

So sad.. A great loss.. Rip Brendan..

[@gerardodwyer5908]

Interesting observations on O'Neill and Lemasse. The Chichesters, originally from Devon in England, changed its family name to O'Neill in 1855. The Chichesters had no blood links to any branch of the O'Neill (Úi Néill / Hy Néill) of Ulster. Former Taoiseach Séan Lemasse was of French Huguenot stock.

[@eamoc]

He dies in march 64, so he must not have been long for this world when this was filmed. Incidentally, he collapsed in the pub around the corner from where I live, and from where I am typing this...

[@celineferdinand6944]

Which pub was that? Is it the one near the Guinness building?

[@eamoc]

@@celineferdinand6944 Harkins Harbour Bar, Echlin Street D8

[@JamesNames-yo3ou]

@@celineferdinand6944 The Harbour Lights Bar (now Harkin's Harbour Bar) on Echlin Street, Dublin.

[@celineferdinand6944]

@@JamesNames-yo3ou Thank you. Do you know why he was there, so far away from where he lived? Could it be because he had been banned from many pubs in and around the city?

[@JamesNames-yo3ou]

@@celineferdinand6944 Maybe. Or maybe it was a chill pub. Or maybe he was tired of the hustle and bustle of the city? You're probably right, but I gotta admit, anonymity is a thing easily taken for granted. I'm getting old and definitely prefer quieter bars these days. My favorite is a very chill, velvety speak-easy sort of joint called Paschal's, in Denton, TX. Have you ever been to Harkin's Harbour?

[@MrRichiekaye]

Now I can read him right, knowing how he spoke.

[@shelbyplanet]

Absolutely!👍

[@JamesNames-yo3ou]

I'm not sure he spoke like this, ehh, 5 years before this, let's say. I think his brain was pretty gone at this point.

[@Alfredromeothatsme]

Fantastic to see. I think he once described himself as a drinker who had a writing problem!

[@raymondwalsh7520]

I thought it was sad and nothing endearing about it at all

[@danielmay1278]

This man should be on the Drama Curriculum. Challenged my Drama teacher on it and he said it's probably because of his Political Beliefs. Madly underrated.

[@matthew5386]

do you mean the fact he was in the RA?

[@danielmay1278]

@@matthew5386 The IRA yes, bearing in mind that this was the opinion of my Drama Lecturer not myself.

[@matthew5386]

@@danielmay1278 sure he didnt stay fond of the ra did he? I havent read it but i heard his book borstol boy is about him in prison as a young lad and he starts to realise english people can be nice. However i could be wrong

[@billparrish9200]

He's on the drama curriculum in most universities, Irish and overseas. Not sure his plays are that suitable or relevant for secondary/high school students, though.

[@alanwann9318]

"And the gargle dims your brain"

[@karaokesongsandmusic1521]

One of my favourite lines in any song

[@markajonestify]

The Line is The Gargle Dims My Brain From The Song The Rare Old Times The Song Luke Kelly The Dubliners And Danny Doyle.

[@markajonestify]

Both Sang The Same Song.

[@poddy6530]

My grandmas cousin and the year I was born...

[@samanthahuth4075]

This is heartbreaking so see and hear..such a talented man...still funny articulate...but sometimes you need the escape...😥

[@SmudgerBKB]

I discovered this Man “Brendan Ó Beacháin” when I was 16yrs old as I became closer to my Father. I found that I was a distant relative (Great Uncle) and it made me immensely proud. My Father (Gary Behan) and my GrandFather (Peter Behan) also spoke of our family and their history plenty. It’s a great Joy to know that I have the Irish 🍀 Ó Beacháin blood coursing through my veins. Sad to see Brendan like this but proud to know he didn’t stop for anything, but instead he carried on for passion and Love of a poetic ending. RIP Uncle Brendan 💚

[@Chromosome999]

Such a beautiful soul drank to deal with all those thoughts he was a genius funny how people most and laughed at him when he’d be drunk but he had more brilliance in his little finger than all those men put together there with him an absolute gem and a heart of gold

[@jerryosue7969]

He knew the whole island, I'll follow ye to Ulster and back 💚

[@roberttownsend7397]

May all you sons be bishops as Brendan said to the reverent mother.

[@marykategraham.205]

""""You will never beat the Irish---- they took away our LAND- LANGUAGE- RELIGION--- but- they could never Harness our Tongues"""---- R.I.P. Brendan... Diá dháoibh.. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@raycarter4030]

What about project 2030 that will bring 500,000 third world immigrants to your tiny land?

[@nervesinapattern7261]

@@raycarter4030 source?

[@marykategraham.205]

@@raycarter4030 """Respect your comment Ray--- but- all I can say is in Three words what I've learned from life --- """IT GOES ON""--- Diá dháoibh Ray...Béannachtaí....🙏🙏🙏🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪💚💚💚🌾🌾🌾........

[@patriciaoreilly8907]

But you sold your soul to Europe

[@marykategraham.205]

@@patriciaoreilly8907 """Patricia- I sold my Soul to no one - I am of Ireland NOW AND FOREVER...GOD IS THE HOLDER OF MY SOUL --- NO BODY ELSE.."""--- Diá dháoibh..🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@leespiderpod]

I’ve seen booze fuck-up too many lives, I gave it up years ago

[@johnsealy733]

Even at his drunkest he knew lemass and o neill were stooges, people commenting haven't a clue, a genius with all the flaws, nothing like him anymore, anywhere, world is a loss 🙏

[@tommydowling9]

Mad to think he was only 40 in this, drink had well and truly taken it's toll then. He was dead a few months later.

[@ghostofgralton6859]

He was a great artist, in his own way

[@JamesNames-yo3ou]

He's funny as f! "I'm a drinker with a writing problem!" Gets me every time!

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

To me, this is very sad to see Brendan is fully drunk but his mind is working well, The drink killed this very fine man, this most brilliant artist. The same happened to Phil Lynott the wild life took him down and when he lost his life it broke a billion hearts all over its world including mine, At first, I felt a little angry at Phil for throwing his most brilliant arts and he had several also for losing his young life. It took me a while to understand better and I learned things happen in life that we can not foresee or control

[@nagolhayze9366]

It’s the curse of the drunken leprechauns. Personally I blame Darby O’Gill and the Little People ☘️🥃🥴🥊💨

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

@@nagolhayze9366 Nobody needs to hear your insults, you should know better, never kick someone when they are now on their luck, give a helping hand or say a kind word or just walk on

[@nagolhayze9366]

@@jamesbradshaw3389 in my part of the Emerald Isle this is known as humour ... lighten up. Enough of the humour police and whatnot. Top of the morning to you ...

[@johnmc3862]

@@jamesbradshaw3389 Relax ffs.

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

@@johnmc3862 Thanks John, relaxed

[@TheAvarusAnimus]

He was 41 years of age here.

[@gailday3781]

A voice ❤️

[@colinbrigham8253]

Thank you 🤗

[@jenniferjuniper97]

Thanks for posting

[@ThePlatypusReturns]

He's got a little blood in his alcohol system

[@thomasm5714]

He was a drinker with a writing problem

[@johnmc3862]

@@thomasm5714 The problem was he couldn’t get enough drink.

[@JamesNames-yo3ou]

@@thomasm5714 Y'beat me to it, damn ye! 🤣

[@alanmahoney167]

My mum's maiden name was Behan and when I was a kid she told me and my sister that Brendan was her uncle. it wasn't til I was grown up (about in my thirties) that I found out it was a load of bollocks and we weren't related to him at all

[@NeverBelieveALie]

oh no! gutted

[@desmo9159]

The imploding of a genius

[@Halhalla]

The drink is a curse.

[@frankmurphy8221]

Tuatha....No, its not that the Drink is a Curse...No indeed....As the vast majority can take it or Leave it....but not i...No,...Much like Brendan i could not just take it or leave it...No

[@stacyblue1980]

Truly is. So sad. He gave us so much but drink is in every chapter. Im sorry top say this. Look at "Confessions of An Irish Rebel". I was entranced by that book and I understand drinkin'. Just a thing. But.... Its not ... in His sense. I have nothing against drinking but it truly is mind-blowing and you have to wonder.. "How?"

[@sitluxetluxfuit4481]

His curse went hand in hand with his genius .

[@JamesNames-yo3ou]

Ah, but life would be Hell without it!

[@gabhanachdenogla8342]

"The terrorist is the one with the small bomb." one of Brendan's great quotes - quite apt for the current madness seen in the media today in relation to the horrors inflicted upon our Palestinian brothers and sisters.

[@dibble2005]

Truly Unique Man.

[@direktorpresident]

Forty one years old

[@adude9882]

He looks, speaks and sounds like a 70 year old.

[@andrew-hd8do]

There was no man who could better Brendan in the game of drink...

[@yvonnerooney8434]

He had untreated diabetes that affected his brain and his speech, was often mistaken for drunkenness. He suffered diabetic blackouts and diabetic comas that caused damage. The drinking probably caused the diabetes.

[@LarryMcLarnon]

Brendan was a national treasure..

[@Морскаявода-т2м]

And in Brendan Behan's footsteps I don't stop and down the street.

[@Londonfogey]

Behan comes across in interviews as an Irish p*sshead but you have to read his stuff to appreciate his talent. 'Borstal Boy' and the 'Quare Fellow' are really good reads.

[@jackwild8019]

The same ending for Dylan Thomas...

[@wakeoftheflood2]

He died that same year. RIP

[@maryrich9260]

No GBS is he? Brain rotted from drink.

[@johnmc3862]

He died weeks after that.

[@gailday3781]

❤️

[@jamescarroll9022]

A drinker with a writing problem

[@archorg8]

I think this is the infamous Malcolm Muggeridge interview that he did after "The Quare Fellow" came out, which would have been around 1956.

[@chriswalford4161]

No Malcolm Muggeridge in view anywhere in this clip. Although I don’t know know who the interviewer is.

[@archorg8]

@@chriswalford4161 Thanks for the info. So this is not the interview with Muggeridge that first made Behan famous. Good to know.

[@georgel74]

No, some prat from itv, and tho Brendan was in very poor health, mentally and physically, he more than held his own with that character trying to be a journalist..

[@archorg8]

@@georgel74 Thanks. Agreed, he certainly held his own.

[@josephjohnston6826]

@@chriswalford4161 The Muggeridge interview was another one. Totally drunk and it is said that Muggeridge got him that way deliberately.

[@joehart7260]

Although immensely talented I have often wondered how he learned his craft as a writer, given the kind of life he led.

[@billparrish9200]

He read.

[@danieltobiasbehan1968]

My family were working-class intellectuals and extremely well-read (he was my uncle). Research the history of it and it's all there. His uncle, my great uncle/my Grandmother's brother Peadar Kearney was also a poet who wrote the National Anthem and many other classic folk songs, and had a book of his poems/songs published in 1928. Brendan took his inspiration from Peadar whom he idolised, and wrote a poem in honour of his uncle when he passed. Sadly these days the working-class culture of intellectualism that existed back then seems to have been lost somewhat. Hopefully, it can be revived.

[@joehart7260]

@@danieltobiasbehan1968 Fascinating, I totally agree with you, too many middle class writers and politicians around nowadays.

[@kevinmorrow2788]

The dumbing down of the working classes has been a work in progress for decades

[@darrenwalshe8513]

​@danieltobiasbehan1968 thank you for that insight ❤

[@besserman1]

A drinker with a writing problem.Old joke but I like it

[@ossian11]

He died in 1964.

[@gailday3781]

🍀🌙❤️

[@eileencregg6754]

Just my loves.. 4ever.. Not be stupid.. My heart is with My heart.

[@tuffgonggbUNCTION]

SOULJAH ROCKER, JAHBLESS....

[@katoness]

The demon drink, like my Ma use to say.

[@YouTubeCensor]

CC highly recommended.

[@davidfoley3510]

Poor man. I can smell him from here.

[@tommcgrath275]

Great I was avdrinker who had driver p4obliem

[@Whizzy-jx3qe]

He looks like he’s been dragged through a ditch backwards.

[@knownpleasures]

He’s only 41 here but looks about 65. Success had gone to his head and down to his liver!!

[@MrDerbee]

Sad, tragic waste of a gifted mind and intellect.

[@andrew-hd8do]

Sporting a black eye.. He must of been talking when he shudda been listening. As me aul fella used to say😁

[@Alexe829]

Interviewer image of Ends Kenny!

[@janejohnson9429]

He was unwell here clearly, but part of the cause of his halting way of speaking was because he had a stammer.

[@123YMR]

This was his untreated diabetes, not drunkenness.

[@22grena]

He must have died soon after this interview

[@paulgalligan1916]

The gargle eh

[@eachwaythief6132]

Dead at 41

[@waynemcauliffe2362]

Give the man a drink

[@molly.behan.13]

😀

[@ivanshipy1966]

He is dying here so fuckin sad

[@b.m.t.h.3961]

He looks very old but I guess being drunk much of the time aged him.

[@davy_K]

He's a busted flush here. A shadow of himself reduced to grasping for soundbites. Sorry to see.

[@spencermakote7436]

This is extremely painful to watch, has the glazed vacancy in his eyes which is very familiar to me, he looks like my father, whom as the years progressed became a rabid, violent drunk. Irishmen and drink, what a tiresome cliche it all is.

[@MikesFitnessGoals]

What a snooze.

[@phillynott1060]

Were you expecting anything else from a brain damaged alcoholic within a matter of months if not weeks from his death?

[@Kianmur]

To young to die, too drunk to live

[@sylvesterboland675]

L

[@iersejounge]

He's fukin wrecked. Was everyone having the same conversation at all? I'm not down with the snobbery of the presumed genius of those who render their suffering into national mourning, celebrated and harmonised with the assumed misery, of the misery, of the Athens of the north. I want to read the book that has five lines and Instantly shows me what I'm looking for, wether I realise it or not. It's a ball and chain culture we embrace with our passionate ignorance of the cogs of our very slavery. Some snigger and laugh but rarely,if any, bother to desserter themselves from the continued antics of play watching, as their perspective is chosen. Everything is YHV or anti YHV. This realisation doesn't suit folk. They want to choose their conditions, for terms. But apart from that, he's bleeding deadly

[@dermottfitzpatrick1450]

Don’t write naughty words on walls if you can’t spell and don’t understand the language you are writing in.

[@anneliamohara2842]

Haven’t that saying in a long time Bleeding Deadlie !from Gardiner street myself living the States now !

[@anneliamohara2842]

Meant Deadly 😮

[@seandelap6268]

1st.

[@ChrisBmufc]

Was he gay?

[@irishboer7124]

Bi

[@johnhariis250]

Yeah, he Lived Arthur and whoever else joined him Sound Man Brendan 👍

[@johnhariis250]

Loved!!!

[@kenoneill8783]

*No, he wasn't, though according to Ulick O'Connor's biography he was sometimes sexually attracted to young men, I think this may have been the root cause of his drinking problem.*

[@ChrisBmufc]

@@kenoneill8783 I’d consider that bi sexual though Ken, no?

[@optimusminimus-v3d]

Just another drunken Mick!

[@mrdeafa25]

just another cheap throwaway racist comment

[@lewisgreen1633]

No call for that!!

[@phillynott1060]

Racist prick.

[@phillynott1060]

Says just another useless prick.