Frankly Speaking

Being Frank – Ten Themes on a Life.


1. A Star is born in the (South) East.
24th November 1951 – Mr and Mrs Sinnott of Olde Pound House St. Peters Square, Wexford wish to announce the birth of their son Frank David , a brother for Declan, and Maurice. Mother and baby doing well.
This section to be a nostalgic look back at the life of the little boy growing up in a small  provincial town, and the imprint his childhood would have in later years. Series of moments and recall that are poignant yet comedic.  Also an interview with his 97 year old Mother.

2. The Pecking Order
Life as the baby brother in a house of men. Described by Maurice as being like a “ little teddy bear, always looking for a hug, a very affectionate child “.
 Frank describes Maurice as being   “mammalian.”
“Maurice is the favourite by a thousand years, and then Deccie – by 4 years, and then ………… Me.” 
Maurice gets to set the record straight.

3. A Literary Bent
Frank becomes aware of words and falls in love with language. His rivalry for the top of the class spot -   ( achieving 97% on a regular basis  ) in Essay and Composition sees him and a friend  -  ( Tucker Walsh ) - write 50 page essays, much to the consternation of the hapless teacher Sean Byrne. He submits poetry and stories and begins to be noticed, winning competitions and cash. (A fiver from Jim Jenkins )
4. Hold the front page
As a teenager Frank starts, edits, writes and lampoons his own paper “The Boker Gazette” to much hilarity amongst his peers. He begins to be obsessed with order, numbers and cricket. He spends a lot of time alone smoking in his bedroom listening to The Beatles teaching himself the guitar as Maurice had bored of it.



5. Kiss me quick
A potted history of the many  loves in Franks life and the women who surround him still                                       ( despite or maybe because of his curmudgeonly ornery self.)  

 
6. They’re coming to take me away Ha Ha ……………
After hurling a gas cylinder through the upstairs window of his home and almost braining a random passer-by , Frank realises that he may need help with the mania he now has to face.
 “It took 6 of them to hold me down”.    
He is sectioned and diagnosed with Schizophrenia.

7. Losing my Religion.
In the throes of his psychosis Frank drinks heavily (for him – “Never more than 5 pints “) and drives the length and breadth of the County in first gear. He is sent to Mountjoy Jail for a term of one year for driving and insurance offences despite pleading to the judge that he is unwell. “I still remember the words as clear as the dawn that breaks  “ Send that man down “ . He has an epiphany and emerges a month later.
8. Out, damn Spot.
A story of Frank as told by his beloved dogs – subtitled “From Betty to Alabama”  

9. Frankly speaking
An exploration of the man through his writings, his legendary “View from a Bridge” column, his mimicry of locals which causes outrage and consternation ( usually by omission ) and his published works to date.

10. If I may be Frank
A   snap -shot of his day, from a 4am alarm call to hear the BBC Foreign Service, checking cricket and/or horses,  bookies, meals, characters, the man who shaves him ( ! ) the woman who massages him, the woman who cleans his flat, the woman who washes his shirts  and the long suffering woman who cooks for him and was driven to write “Frankly, my dear “ as   self help/therapy.
Michelle Dooley Mahon 2012 .

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