Life of Flann O'Brien celebrated

It is the next in a series of temporary exhibitions in the Alley by the Council's Museum and Heritage Service in partnership with the Strabane History Society.

The exhibition celebrates the life and works of local writer Brian O'Nolan (Brian O'Nuallain). Better known by his pen names of Flann O'Brien and Myles Na Gopaleen, Brian was born on October 5, 1911 at 15 Bowling Green in Strabane. His father Michael O'Nolan (1875-1937) was the first chairman of the Tyrone GAA County Board.

The exhibition will explore Brian's life as a novelist, playwright and satirist and investigate how he came to be considered as one of the major literary figures in twentieth century Irish literature.

The exhibition will display some associated works of art depicting Flann and his works, a short documentary by the History Society and also a series of readings of his work on screen in the exhibition.

Roisin Doherty, Curator with Council's Museum and Heritage Service, said the exhibition will delve into the life of one of Strabane's most famous sons.

"Flann O'Brien is a name known not just locally but across Ireland and further afield, so 110 years on from his birth in Strabane it is fitting to have a public exhibition that explains more about his back story and his work.

"We are delighted to work alongside the Strabane History Society in bringing this exhibition to the Alley Theatre and we are hopeful that we will be able to open it up to the public in May, subject to COVID-19 restrictions.

"We also have a series of events programmed along with the exhibition and the first talk by well-known author and journalist Frank McNally entitled 'The Lives of Brian' is now available on the Tower Museum YouTube channel."

To find out more please visit www.towermuseumcollections.com.