Sir, – It is indeed fitting that we remember Maeve Binchy on her first anniversary (“Remembering Maeve” supplement, July 30th). As a fellow student in UCD in the late 1950s, I was fortunate to be part of a small group who joined her on a daily train journey into Pearse station (Westland Row) followed by a walk to Earlsfort Terrace.
Maeve was always full of life, wit and generous spirit which made the journey a daily tonic. In particular, I recall one incident when she told us a great story of an embarrassing situation which had befallen her the previous day. As she came to the end of the story to her rapt student audience, she concluded with the immortal words “I was mortified!”.
Almost immediately, three small heads appeared over the top of the high-backed bench seat behind Maeve and in perfect unison, they shouted, “She was mortify-ed”.
Maeve reacted typically with a loud happy laugh followed by the amusing apt comment that she had not realised she had such a wide and attentive audience.
I often wondered whether this little incident in some way triggered her life-long interest in listening in to the conversations which formed the basis of so many of her worldwide best sellers.
This wonderful Irish storyteller deserves all the tributes we can pay. Thank you Maeve for such heart-warming memories. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL J LOWEY,
Knocksinna Crescent,
Dublin 18.