McGahern the man Feb 2014 | Page 21

John McGahern WHAT MANNER OF MAN ? Georges Elliot’s husband, Often seen as dour, but was: Funny, Great company, Irreverent, ”excuse me for intruding but she wasn't like that at all, she was serious but also great fun. I was married to her.” Mike Murphy, (R.T.E.) “John McGahern is what is called a lovely man – Warm, modest, friendly, gentle, a man who would be an understand friend in a crisis as well as good company over a drink”. View of himself from “Old Fashioned” “As they were controversial they won him a sort of fame: some thought they were serious , well made and compulsive viewing, bringing things to light that were in bad need of light: but others maintained they were humorless, morbid and restricted to a narrow view that were more reveling of private obsessions than any truth about Irish life in general”.