Is it about a bicycle? The story of Brian O'Nolan

A look at the life of Brian O'Nolan and his connection with Strabane.
Brian O'Nolan was born on 5th October 1911 in Strabane, Co. Tyrone. Both a novelist and satirist he is best known for his works At Swim-Two-Birds and The Third Policeman, written under the pseudonym Flann O'Brien. He also wrote the novel An Béal Bocht as well as many satirical columns in the Irish Times under the name Myles na gCopaleen.

[@simonpenny2564]

in my opinion, The Third Policeman is genius, a great comic work of the English language, with numerous exquisitely written passages . I read it first nearly 50 years ago and read it again every five years or so, and always laugh at its wit and surreal humor.

[@jamesdolan4042]

I read Flann O' Brian fascinating book The Third Policeman some years ago. It definitely was ahead of it's time and very delightful to read, for a book published about 1940.

[@marknewbold2583]

It wasn't published until after his death in 1966

[@mrsbrownandhercat]

For anyone who doesn't know, the opening "reading" is from The Third Policeman, which everyone should read.

[@grenvillephillips6998]

It was starting to read the The Third Policeman which brought me here. I heard it mentioned by Alex Lifeson reminiscing about Rory Gallagher, who he said bought him a copy by way of offering him an insight into Irish humour. As I turned the first page I knew exactly what he meant.

[@miralong8501]

I certainly will!

[@MrPolty71]

Really great documentary; wonderful viewing for all Flann fans. Nice to see stuff about his childhood and the Strabane connexion; important background information for those who may want to find out more after reading the books.

[@liammcooper]

fantastic stuff indeed

[@bernardsmith2900]

Excellent, thanks for doing this, very informative, enjoyable. Well done.

[@arborialmonkey]

Nice bit of work, Michael. You're a natural!

[@puckering1]

Very well done and informative thanks for sharing!

[@terrywashpotwashpot103]

just seen this tonight,,excellent show,,well done to all concerned

[@joenavanodo3780]

This was very interesting and very well presented, from start to finish, thank you. ,

[@Bubblesandcandyfloss]

Thinking of doing my thesis on this guy. Fascinating. So many angles to take

[@KarenWoods1]

Fascinating and charming...

[@Johnconno]

'Ay, that's the true comic spirit alright.'

[@jackstux]

I'd hoped for elaboration on the story that after not finding a publisher for The Third Policeman he had it sitting by where he ate for 26 or so years.

[@joehiggs100]

Very good, many thanks.

[@mackenziefan5019]

Count John McCormack at the end?

[@williamkelly9859]

Doesn't matter.we all don't know but how great being young was we can't all be geniuses .

[@friendlier]

Thank you! Is this a privately funded documentary? You've inspired me along those lines anyway.

[@nozecone]

Can anyone tell me what our man says at the very end: "... ironic, because it was [?] Tuesday"?

[@irenemax3574]

“He died in Dublin on the first of April, 1966. He would have found this ironic, because that was All Fools’ Day.”

[@nozecone]

@@irenemax3574 Thank you!

[@seanhennessy]

Superb :)

[@keniiilmarinen6964]

What the hell happened to the collective genius of Ireland?

[@SuperMichine]

Which dialect are they speaking?

[@stevesandford8993]

They are speaking Northern Irish Gaelic, yet that dialect in itself has certain sub-dialects... (Donegal Irish, for example, would be noticeably different...) Other native-speaking areas of Ireland with specific dialects include Galway/Connemara, in the West, and Munster, (Cork/Kerry) in the South. (Something that might amuse you is that I went to an Irish Speaking secondary school in Dublin, though I an not a native speaker. On a visit once to the Gweedore Gaeltacht area of Donegal, my accent and use of syntax provoked general hilarity among the Donegal native speakers!!!) xx SF

[@SuperMichine]

Thank you Steve, it is indeed fascinating.

[@padairua8129]

Basically in Northern Ireland we are taught the Official Standard, but when we visit the Gaeltacht in Donegal we pick up a few of their habits and phrases. It’s a wonderful mix haha