The death has occurred of Brian Fallon, the former literary editor and chief critic of The Irish Times, at the age of 93.
Mr Fallon, who lived at Innisheer, Manor Kilbride, Co Wicklow, died peacefully on Thursday, September 3, following what his family described as “a long and rich life”.
A highly regarded and influential figure in Irish arts and literary criticism for more than three decades, Mr Fallon served as chief critic of The Irish Times for 35 years and was also the founder of the newspaper’s ‘Weekend’ supplement.
Throughout his career, he was renowned as a champion of Irish art and culture, helping to bring criticism and the arts to a wider audience.
Born in Cootehill, County Cavan, in 1933, he entered The Irish Times at the age of just 19, through his father, the poet and playwright Padraic Fallon, a friend of former editor RM Smyllie. There, he served his time as a subeditor, while studying classics at Trinity College Dublin.
His books include works on Irish artists Charles Tyrrell, Martin Gale, Patrick Swift and Seán McSweeney, while Poet’s Journal & Other Writings 1934-1974, which appeared in 2005, was his edited selection of essays and reviews by his own father.
Away from writing, he shared a lifelong partnership with journalist Marion FitzGerald, whom he met while working at The Irish Times. The couple made their home in Wicklow and raised seven children.
In a notice published on RIP.ie, he was remembered as “a man of letters” and “a lifelong champion of Irish art”.
“Great, wise and helpful”, were fitting words of praise used in messages of condolence by his former colleagues, who also recalled a “superb journalist and supporter of the arts”.
“It was also fascinating to see how modestly he carried his wonderful and beautiful talent,” one wrote. “And how clearly and interestingly he could write about the arts, history and life generally.”
In Manor Kilbride, Mr Fallon was remembered as “a kind, gentle, family man”, by a neighbour who has “memories I will treasure”.
Predeceased by his wife Marion and brothers Gary, Conor, Niall and Padraic, he is survived by his children Aonghus, Catríona, Ruairí, Fionnuala, Emer, Oisín and Donal, his brother Ivan, his daughters-in-law Paula and Sarah, sons-in-law, Lasse, John and Richard, grandchildren, David, Liobhan, Mikaela, Oran, Laoise, Patrick, Fionnuala, Milo, Finn, and Etain and great-granddaughter, Ada.
His funeral mass will take place at 1pm on Tuesday, September 8, St Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride, followed by burial in the adjoining church graveyard.