THE FUNERAL of the writer Molly Keane, who died aged 92 last Monday, took place yesterday at St Paul's Church in Ardmore, Co Waterford. Her grave in the tiny cemetery was lined with fresh rhododendrons, the earth strewn with gorse and rosemary, her simple coffin covered during the service in primrose wreaths.
About 200 people attended the funeral service for the writer, who had two careers: the first as a novelist and playwright in the 1930s in London (under the pseudonym M.J. Farrell); the second almost half a century later, with the publication of the novels Good Behaviour which was televised by the BBC - and Time After Time, as well as anthologies and cookery books.
Molly Keane had lived in Ardmore since the death of her husband, Robert, in 1946, and the church was crowded with relatives and friends. The President, Mrs Robinson, was represented by Comdt Dermot O'Connor.
The poet and longtime friend, Tom McCarthy, spoke of Molly Keane's liveliness and talent, her influence on young writers and her literary and practical advice. ("Read lots of prose to write good poetry, the best prose is written as well as poetry and good poems always tell one something, as does good prose" and "add sugar to carrots to bring out the flavour").
The service was conducted by the Rev Desmond Warren. There were readings from Ecclesiastes by the local parish priest, Canon Donal O'Connor, and from Shakespeare's Cymbeline by the actor Hurd Hatfield and by a close friend of Ms Keane's, the Rev James Roose Evans, an Anglican priest and London theatre director.
Another friend, Mr Tony Gallagher, a fisherman and member of the local drama group, recited St Patrick's Breastplate, while her grand daughter, Julia Brownlow, read a Celtic Blessing.
The chief mourners were her daughters, Ms Sally Phipps and Ms Virginia Brownlow, their husbands, Mr George Phipps and Mr Kevin Brownlow, and her granddaughter, Julia.