THE WIDOW and brothers of Pulitzer Prize winner Frank McCourt were in Limerick last night to unveil a bust in memory of the author of Angela’s Ashes. His widow Ellen McCourt said, “I got diagnosed with breast cancer three weeks after Frank died so it has been a rather bumpy road for the last eight months or so. It’s the first time I have been here without Frank so it’s a bitter-sweet occasion. It’s nice to be here with the three brothers. My suspicion is it will be one of the last times if not the last time that we’re all together in Limerick on what I consider a happy occasion.” As to how her late husband would feel about his bust being unveiled in front of Leamy Art School on Harstonge Street, where he was educated, she said: “I think he would be very amused by it. But, on the other hand, since Frank’s profession became teaching I think he would be quite touched.” Mrs McCourt paid tribute to Limerick artist Una Heaton who organised the event. Malachy McCourt (78) said his brother Frank “would think it somewhat absurd that just because he wrote a book that all this is happening”, but he would also have also been very proud and have seen the event as ”Limerick’s way of saying thank you”. “From an economic point of view, Angela’s Asheshas done a lot for the city. Frank didn’t anticipate that but he’s glad it did.” Alfie McCourt (69) described last night’s reception as “warm and welcoming”: “We had two memorials and a number of tributes but this is a really, really meaningful tribute today. This is our hometown.” During their visit, the McCourt family plan to spread some of Frank McCourt’s ashes at Carrigogunnell Castle, which overlooks the Shannon. President of the University of Limerick Don Barry was at the ceremony and revealed it is to create a Frank McCourt chair in creative writing.
