Stephen Behan
Encyclopedia
Stephen Behan was an Irish republican who was father of writers Brendan
, Brian
and Dominic Behan
.
Behan lived in a house in Russell Street on the Northside
of Dublin which belonged to his mother Christine English, who owned a number of properties in the area. He trained initially as a Jesuit priest (qualifying as a teacher) but shortly before taking vows was found in a compromising position with a young woman; naturally he was required to leave the Jesuit order. Later he joined the Irish Republican Army
and became one of Michael Collins
' Twelve Apostles, responsible for assassinating British Army officers during the Anglo-Irish War. After the Free State was created, all government workers (teachers included) were required to take an oath of alliegence to the British Crown. Behan's refusal to take such an oath of loyalty resulted in his exclusion from the teaching profession for which he had trained and ultimately a life of comparative hardship.
Behan became a painter and decorator, and married Kathleen Kearney in the early 1920s. Kathleen's Brother Paedar Kearney was a famous song writer and poet (famous for writing the Irish
National Anthem
'A Soldier's Song' and 'The Foggy Dew'). Stephen Behan read classic English
writers to his children in the evenings before bedtime; Kathleen took their children on literary tours of the city, thus were the seeds of creativity nurtured.
Brendan Behan
Brendan Francis Behan was an Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright who wrote in both Irish and English. He was also an Irish republican and a volunteer in the Irish Republican Army.-Early life:...
, Brian
Brian Behan
Brian Behan was an Irish writer and trade unionist.Behan was born in Dublin, the son of Stephen Behan, younger brother of Brendan Behan and older brother of Dominic Behan...
and Dominic Behan
Dominic Behan
Dominic Behan was an Irish songwriter, short story writer, novelist and playwright who wrote in both Irish and English. He was also a committed socialist and Irish Republican...
.
Behan lived in a house in Russell Street on the Northside
Northside
Northside or North Side may refer to:Music:* Northside , a musical group from Manchester, England* NorthSide, an American record labelPlaces:* North Side, California, former name of Oildale, California, United States...
of Dublin which belonged to his mother Christine English, who owned a number of properties in the area. He trained initially as a Jesuit priest (qualifying as a teacher) but shortly before taking vows was found in a compromising position with a young woman; naturally he was required to leave the Jesuit order. Later he joined the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
and became one of Michael Collins
Michael Collins (Irish leader)
Michael "Mick" Collins was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance and Teachta Dála for Cork South in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. Subsequently, he was both Chairman of the...
' Twelve Apostles, responsible for assassinating British Army officers during the Anglo-Irish War. After the Free State was created, all government workers (teachers included) were required to take an oath of alliegence to the British Crown. Behan's refusal to take such an oath of loyalty resulted in his exclusion from the teaching profession for which he had trained and ultimately a life of comparative hardship.
Behan became a painter and decorator, and married Kathleen Kearney in the early 1920s. Kathleen's Brother Paedar Kearney was a famous song writer and poet (famous for writing the Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
National Anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
'A Soldier's Song' and 'The Foggy Dew'). Stephen Behan read classic English
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
writers to his children in the evenings before bedtime; Kathleen took their children on literary tours of the city, thus were the seeds of creativity nurtured.