Emotional celebration of a great writer
Helen Falconer's husband Derek and children Sean, Molly and Imogen at the tribute evening in Ballina Arts Centre. Pictures: John O'Grady
On Saturday, January 31st, the nurturing power of Imbolc was as strong as the silver full moonlight on the Moy. I had the pleasure of attending - and the honour of participating in - an extraordinary night for an exceptional woman.
Coordinated by Una Morris, with generous help from the staff of the Ballina Arts Centre, Cathy Whelan, Aideen Ryan and Sinead Leonard, the evening was a celebration of the poetry and a mourning of the premature death of Helen Falconer.
A resident of Ross, Killala, Helen invested her love of life and the arts into our community: the lives of her family, friends, neighbours and colleagues.
The large crowd in attendance at the Arts Centre, where Helen worked part-time, reflected and paid tribute to Helen’s life of contribution.
Friends of Helen, many having never read in public before, stood at the lectern proud to participate. They read a profoundly moving selection of Helen’s poems.
Never shy of facing harsh truths, her poetry often spoke of other tragically premature deaths: our Clash fan friend Tim and the beautiful, crushingly young Alana.
Through ‘Poem for Sinéad’s Baby’, ‘Mother’ and ‘For You, My Daughter’ we heard, felt and shared Helen’s adoration of family; both close and extended.
Interspersed between poems and personal pieces we were treated to two sublime musical interludes.
With Keira playing harp to accompany Allysa and Daniella, the Neilan girls performed ‘Gartan Mothers Lullaby’, which they’d sung at the launch of Helen’s young adult novel, ‘The Changeling’ in 2015.
Acclaimed local singing coach Maureen Lawlor, who used to perform alongside Helen, treated us to a breathtaking rendition of ‘Nella Fantasia’, that skin-tingling melody from ‘The Mission’. On a night already liberated from dry eyes, Maureen was so worthy of her standing ovation.
Personal pieces were read by Helen’s oldest friend Alison Gilchrist, or Ali G as she’s better known, Helen’s younger daughter Imogen, who spoke with brave and beautiful honesty, author Morag Prunty/Kate Kerrigan and myself.
Towards the end of the evening, Helen’s husband Derek read her poem 'Cairn', in which she wrote about how she was ready to move on, having raised four wonderful children, and loved her husband.
He in turn reiterated his undying love, and then a video was played of Helen in her hospital bed, joking and laughing on the night before she died.
To camera Helen read a poem called 'I am Fat and Somewhat Old.' in which she celebrated life.
More through my Jewish blood than my London roots, this Englishman has learnt to appreciate how the Irish celebration of life cannot be enjoyed without the inexorable inevitability of death. We savour our lives by honouring the deaths of others.
One remark on everyone’s lips that Full Moon night was how much Helen would have enjoyed it herself.
She’d have loved it.
We’ve felt every single day of the year she’s been gone, yet that Saturday night Helen Falconer lived loud and loved in North Mayo.
