Best known perhaps for his song writing skills, with "Mountains of Mourne" and "Abdul Abulbul Amir" just 2 of the numerous songs he composed, William Percy French was also an entertainer, poet and painter.
'Where the Mountains of Mournesweep down to the sea ....'
Born near Roscommon in 1854, he graduated from Trinity College Dublin as an engineer and worked for 7 years in Cavan as the 'Inspector of Drains'. During that time he wrote songs and painted, which he considered his true talent. After the death of his first wife he turned to the stage for a fulltime career.
Today the watercolours of Percy French can fetch high prices but, with no desire to accumulate money himself, French frequently paid for his board and lodgings with paintings or gave them away to friends.
"Sense of Place" spoke to Mrs Iona McFerran (nee Herdman) about her childhood memories of Percy French staying at her parent's house in Sion Mills. He would occasionally pop in to visit her in the nursery. One afternoon he called in just around teatime. When Mrs McFerran had finished eating, French turned her empty plate upside down, took a lit candle and drew a picture with the wax. Unfortunately, says Mrs McFerran, the plate was taken away afterwards and washed!
(A fine collection of French's paintings can be viewed at the North Down Heritage Centre in Bangor, courtesy of The Percy French Society)
© MMIX