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William Percy French: 1854 – 1920 This page is sponsored by Percy French Summer School. |
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William Percy French was born at Cloonyquin House, Co. Roscommon on 1st. May 1854. His father, Christopher French, was a local landlord and his mother was the daughter of Rev. William Percy, rector of Carrick-on-Shannon.
He showed his stage talents from a early age but entered Trinity to study Civil Engineering and when he graduated he went to work in Cavan as a (self-styled) "Inspector of Drains". After a number of years the work ended and he returned to Dublin to edit a comic magazine called "The Jarvey". He continued to compose music and poetry, to sing and to paint. He met Dr. Houston Collisson with whom he formed a partnership which lasted for many years. |
3rd International Percy French Summer School. 11th to 15th July 2011 at Castlecoote House. (For more details, click on image to go to website) |
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"When Erin Wakes" Brochure for the Percy French Summer School at Castlecoote House, Co. Roscommon in 2010. Contact Percy French Summer School for details. (External Link).
"A Picture of Percy French - An illustrated life of the Irish Songwriter, Entertainer, Poet and Painter" by Alan Tongue. Greystone Books. 1990.
"Immortal Irish Songs of Percy French - Recorded by Brendan O'Dowda". Sam Fox Publishing Company. N.Y. (No date).
"Songs of Percy French Vol. 1" Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co. (No date).
"The best of Percy French". EMI Music Publishing Ltd. 1980.
Images are not to Scale. |
In 1891 his first wife died and without work, he turned to the stage full time, touring the country on his bicycle and painting as he went. In 1900 he moved to London. He toured Canada, the USA and the West Indies in 1910 and he continued to entertain until he died, on 24th. January 1920, after a short illness. He is buried in St. Lukes Church, Formby, Lancashire.
"Prose, Poems & Parodies of Percy French" Edited by his sister Mrs. De Burgh Daly, with Foreword by Alfred Perceval Graves. The Talbot Press Limited, Dublin. (1955: 9th. edition). "The Songs of Percy French" Selected and edited by James N. Healy. Mercier Press. (1993: 5th. edition) (First edition was 1983) and a similar title by the same author and Ossian Publications Ltd. (2003).
"Percy French Remembered" (right) by The County Roscommon Historical & Archaeological Society. 1984.
"Best Irish Songs of Percy French" (left) by Tony Butler. Wolfe Publishing Ltd., London. 3rd Edition (1974). |
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"The World of Percy French" by Brendan O'Dowda. Blackstaff Press. (1982 & 1997 editions) & Songs of Percy French" Published by CFN, Cork. Printed by D&A O'Leary Ltd. (1976). |
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The Inaugural Percy French Summer School 2009.
Ephemera & photographs from the Percy French Summer School 2009.
Photographs above by Hurson Photography.
Photograph (left) shows Áine Donoghue, 2009 winner of the Percy French Scholarship, being presented with her certificate by Harry Tedford of the North Down Percy French Society, at the Percy French Summer School in Castlecoote House. Also in the picture are Fr. Francis Beirne, Michael J. Croghan and Kevin Finnerty of the Roscommon Percy French Society. Kevin's father, John T. Finnerty was an original founder of the scholarship. Photo: © Copyright.
The Second International Percy French Summer School 2010.
Posters for The Second International Percy French Summer School 2010. |
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We welcome additional material relating to Percy French. If you have anything, please contact us. |
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