Writer Edna O’Brien returns to Co. Clare, Ireland 1975

Writer Edna O’Brien, whose books were once banned in Ireland returns to her native County Clare.

On a visit from her home in England, Edna O’Brien meets the people who at one time criticised her and recalls a childhood her parents say was sometimes sad.

Banned for many years after her first book The Country Girls, she became in other people’s eyes a scarlet woman.

Edna was born near Scariff in East Clare and returns to the coast where she had filmed her script ‘I Was Happy Here’. She describes memory as the strongest ally any person can have.

The further I went away from the past, the more clearly I returned inwardly. Picturing meadows, grasses, some animal caught under briars, cuckoo spit, nightfall, and the way the dogs used to wear the paint away off the back door begging with their bodies to be let in.

She rambles the countryside contemplating what kind of country Ireland is.

There must be something secretly catastrophic about a country from which so many people go, escape and the children inherit a trinity of guilts, the guilt for Christ’s passion and crucifixion, the guilt for the plundered land, and the more furtive guilt for the mother frequently defiled by the insatiable father.

A local man Jacksie sings a song about friendship for her.

Edna O’Brien grew up on a farm living in a large house, the original country girl.

The girl with green eyes, a scandalous woman but yet the Clare girl. Described by the critics as a writer who gets closer to the hearts of women than anyone else.

Returning to her homestead where her parents still live, they remember her growing up as inquisitive, cute, quiet, observant, honest and sad. They recall her writing as a young girl on scraps of paper.

The spelling mightn’t always be all right but the material was good. She had the ideas.

‘My Own Place: Edna O’Brien Comes Back To County Clare’ was broadcast on 3 December 1975. The narrator is Andy O’Mahony.

[dorothyburgess-rjcq]

Will always remember meeting her, late 60’s, and our conversation which confirmed the depth and scope of her literary gift. May her unique soul rest in peace.

[tomwalsh]

WHAT a woman! My lovely Mam made me read her books when I was very young. As a gay man I was able to relate although the story wasn’t the same. My Ma knew something about me more than I knew about myself at the time. She was able to paint pictures with her words. EPIC woman, we were so lucky to have her so long but still devastated at her loss.

[jamesbradshaw]

Edna O’Brien, She was a very rare one, what a most brilliant writer, a woman with great courage she was sheer class, even the very great Phil Lynott talked and wrote about her in one or two of his classic songs. I would not and do not agree with every single word she wrote and spoke, O yes she was a very rare one, may Edna O’Brien soul rest in eternal peace in Heaven

[martinmcdonald]

What an intreging woman. A trail blazer and social genius. Charismatic and very decent. You opened eyes and ears and for that we are forever in your dept. R.I.P. Edna O`Brien.

[connoroleary]

Our land and all its love, culture and contradictions is being slowly lowered into the cemetery of memory.
Rest in Peace the land I once loved and held so dear.

[ALavin-enkr]

Her views are her own. We all have our views which are our own. There is not just one story; everyone’s story is different, even though an environment may be the same, we react differently to it. We are all our own unique story.

[jamesbradshaw]

The very great and wonderful Edna O’Brien was a country girl an Irish girl with green eyes, I would not and do not agree with every word she spoke and wrote, Yes she was a very rare one, she was gifted with a way with words, she spoke and wrote with thoughts and signals that came from her ancestor's ancient history, from her heart and soul, just like the brilliant Phil Lynott did, Phil often spoke about Enda, he also included her in a few of his masterpieces songs. at 2, 23 listing to that stunning singing style of the man digging in the field, listen to the words of his song, they will sink into your mind, your memory and heal the wounds on our heart,

[brianquigley]

"She was always very cute as a little girl." For the non-Irish, "cute" means "clever" (at least it did when I was a kid).

[maureenmartin]

She was beautiful as well as being talented….❤

[NicJones-ssbg]

The image at 0:44 could so easily have served as an album cover, and title for that matter.

[seamusoc]

Sorry ‘’Irish Paine’ obviously you never read any of her books, to make such a ridiculous statement .I don’t know your age group, but if you had lived in Ireland during the 1950s and 60s as I did, you would not mention one bad word against this courageous woman, who did more for the Irish people, than all the politicians combined. So get a few of her earlier books and read them, you may change your opinion.

[AffectionateAstroStation-lxis]

There was a lot of men in County Clare with Crooked eyes after the All Ireland.😂😂😂😂

[eddieraffs]

If she returned today in 2024 she'd find that the languages spoken in ireland are the ones the natives do not know.

[Irishpaine]

Absolute Waffle.you can tell Edna O’Brien never worked a day in her life.She talks all day about nothing.