Cork’s most famous exile takes his final bow

Declan Hassett, former arts editor of the ‘Irish Examiner’, marks the passing of a ‘true great’, Niall Tóibín

THE auld triangle that went jingle jangle along the banks of the Royal Canal is silent, Brendan Behan’s dramatic hard times theatrical evocation as represented by the myriad talents of Niall Tóibín is no more. Cork’s most famous “exile” has stepped away from the theatre lights, the stage has gone dark, another ‘true great’ has gone to his reward.