McCourt museum to feature on US TV

THE Frank McCourt Museum in Limerick will feature in a St Patrick’s Day TV special which will go coast to coast in the US.

A crew from NBC yesterday recorded a package at the museum which will be part of a two-hour Irish special on March 17.

Una Heaton who developed the museum at the Old Leamy’s School in Harstonge with her husband John has been invited to New York to appear on the programme.

Frank McCourt and his brothers attended Leamy’s School when they lived in nearby Roden Lane.

His widow, Ellen unveiled a bust of the Angela’s Ashes author last May at the entrance to the museum at a ceremony attended by Frank’s brothers.

Ms Heaton said: “The coast to coast broadcast will be a huge boost for tourism in Ireland, for Limerick and for our museum.”

Among those interviewed for the NBC broadcast, was Mike O’Donnell who conducts the Angela’s Ashes walking tour around locations in Limerick featured in the book.

Also taking part will be, Padraic Breathnach who has translated the book into Irish.

The Irish translation is being published by the Limerick Writer’s Centre.

It is hoped to have a bilingual reading from the book in New York on St Patrick’s Day.

Dominic Taylor of the Limerick Writers Centre said. “It has been translated into 60 languages and shortly it will be available in Irish which will be great.”

The Frank McCourt Museum has become a major tourism attraction in Limerick and features replicas of the old school class in Leamy’s and rooms in the McCourt home.