If you understand not a word of it, it is surely the handiwork of wisdom. Or something like that. Flann O'Brien was onto something when he uttered as much to Sergeant Pluck in The Third Policeman. He was no fool, but to many, O'Brien - or Myles na Gopaleen or George Knowall - was Ireland's greatest Fool.
The sagacious satirist died appropriately enough on April Fools' Day 1966 and so, Thursday, April 1st being the 33rd anniversary of his death, his and the wisdom of Fools everywhere will be celebrated with the Second Festival of Fools.
As author of five acutely discerning novels including At Swim-Two- Birds and The Dalkey Archive, and as unofficial court jester of The Irish Times for almost 30 years, O'Brien's writings transcend his death, eile na hAmadai, Stephen (Abbot of Unreason at the Court of Unrule) and Etain (Bishop of Fools) Winder (brother and sister). say the organisers of Feile na hAmadai, Stephen Winder (Abbot of Unreason at the Court of Unrule) and his sister Etain Winder (Bishop of Fools). "This Foolsday will be a festival to rival Joyce's Bloomsday," says the Bishop. "It will be an all-embracing festival of all its name implies," she explains in depth.
The festival gets underway at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30th, in Grogan's pub on Dublin's South William Street. Then, a representative of the Dublin Writers' Museum will present a life-size sculpture of O'Brien's head to the Bishop and Abbot - and so let the foolery commence.
"And then we will drink!" says the Bishop. "No, no, then we will proceed to the Civic Museum for the Fools' talk."
Such luminaries as O'Brien biographer Peter Costello, and Dr Daithi O hOgain of UCD's Irish folklore department, will wax about the contribution of history's greatest fools. And don't forget your biro. The Polyversity of Foolosophy and Codology will be offering degrees to all in this evening of music and celebration.
April Fools' Day will be the occasion of The Carnival of Amadans. A colourfully rowdy affair will be sent off by Sabina Coyle Higgins and led by the current King of Unrule, Fin Rowley. Joined by the City Arts Squad, the Happy City Samba and props from Down To Earth, it will travel from Parnell Square to Harry Street (off Grafton Street).
At the Court of Miracles in Harry Street, the King will be "executed", and a new king elected. "It will be highly corrupt," promises the Bishop. "That's very important. All back-handers must be accepted."
Fools will be out in farce in Belfast and New York too. The Arcadia bar in Belfast is the venue on April 1st for a celebration of the drama, poetry and short stories of Flann O'Brien, starting at 7 p.m.