Good and bad behaviour in the big houses

Molly Keane, centre, at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre in 1961 for the production of her play, Dazzling Prospect, with co-author John Perry, Margaret Rutherford, Sir John Gielgud, actor and director Richard Leech. Photograph: Dermot Barry

In her latest literary-themed excursions Lorna Hogg visits locations connected to the Anglo-Irish writer Molly Keane

A first novel at seventy-six. This dream for literary publicists took a new course when at the 1981 Booker Awards, the short-listed, mature writer of Good Behaviour, Molly Keane, revealed herself as M.J. Farrell, established author and playwright in the 1930s. But of course, Molly Keane was always full of surprises, and her shrewdly observed and wickedly parodied accounts of her Anglo Irish background were just part of her talent and joie de vivre.

Molly Nesta Skrine was born in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, on July 29th 1904, into an Anglo Irish family, which in 1912 moved to Ballyrankin House in Co. Wexford. Her English ex- diplomat and cattle rancher father, and somewhat undemonstrative poet mother were typical parents of their class, background and generation. They hunted and socialised, leaving their children to be cared for by nannies – who were expected to turn out accomplished, well-mannered young ladies. Molly’s two sisters were sent off to boarding school in England. She refused to join them, and was sent to The French School in Bray, where she started her experience of the ‘delicate art of exclusion’.

Horses and riding became treasured interests. Young ladies of Molly’s background were expected to be good and fearless horsewomen, as well as socially active, perfectly dressed at hunt balls, charming and ideally, beautiful. However, their world was fading fast. In 1921 her parents were taken outside their home by the Black and Tans, and on a summer evening, watched as it was burned to the ground. Molly’s circle may have been long on style – but was becoming short on money. However, second hand riding boots were tactfully ignored, as her enthusiasm for life and fun in general and riding in particular, allowed Molly an escape from home. She regularly visited friends, including Sylvia and John Perry, from Woodruff, in Co. Tipperary. The house would later inspire her book Mad Puppetstown.

Tuberculosis A spell in bed with suspected tuberculosis gave her time to try writing, in order to overcome boredom and isolation. Her initial effort, The Knight of Cheerful Countenance, written under the name of M.J. Farrell, (which was inspired by a local pub), brought her £75 from Mills and Boon. It is said that she promptly spent most of it on a party for her friends at Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel. Of course she could never have used her own name – observing later that ‘to be seen reading a book, let alone writing one, would have been a cause for alarm’ Even worse, men would have been afraid of her.

Molly and daughters Sally and Virginia in the early 1950s

In 1950, Molly and family moved to Ardmore, to live in Dysert, a cottage with magnificent sweeping views out over the sea.

Woodruff was also the place where Molly met her great love and future husband, the tall, blond and good looking gentleman farmer Bobby Keane. The couple were instantly smitten with each other, and for the next five years, carried on a passionate secret affair, with some ‘living in sin’. Intelligent and supportive, he was not threatened by her writing, (which by then was paying for her evening dresses for those hunt balls), and encouraged her. Molly’s farce, Spring Meeting; was written in collaboration with John Perry, who was also an actor in in London. It was directed by John Gielgud, and proved highly successful. The American run helped to pay for her 1939 honeymoon with Bobby, whom she married in 1938.

The next eight years were idyllic. Molly lived at Belleville, near to Cappoquin, with Bobby, later joined by daughters Sally and Virginia. She hunted, tended the garden, visited friends and wrote –between 1928 and 1956, Molly had eleven books published. In London, she developed a glittering lifestyle, attending publishers’ parties, co-authoring plays and enjoying the theatrical world of rehearsals and post theatre parties. Molly’s social circle was impressive, ranging from Lord Charles Cavendish, a son of the Duke of Devonshire, (whose Irish residence was Lismore Castle) and his wife Adele Astaire, (sister of dancer Fred Astaire) through to Irish author Elizabeth Bowen, and actress Peggy Ashcroft.

It was a short idyll. In 1946, Bobby was taken ill in London with a burst duodenal ulcer and rushed to hospital. The next day, he was pronounced dead. Molly found that she could not continue living with memories at Belleville. The grieving young family moved on, living in rented homes over the next few years, as Molly struggled to come to terms with her new life. However, grief and a poor reception for a 1961 play dimmed her enthusiasm for writing. Over the next decades, she set about creating a new life, taking care of her young daughters.

In 1950 they moved to Ardmore, to live in Dysert, a cottage with magnificent sweeping views out over the sea. Molly concentrated on domesticity, and her friends remained loyal and supportive over the decades. When in 1980, she showed actress Peggy Ashcroft the draft of a manuscript which had lain in a drawer for years, she was encouraged to submit Good Behaviour to a publisher.

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Among Mollie’s wide circle of friends were Adele Astaire, sister of the more famous Fred, actress Peggy Ashcroft and novelist Elizabeth Bowen

book, Time after Time were both filmed for television and brought Molly’s trademark wit, sense of black comedy and observant eye of an insider to a wider audience. Her observations did not spare herself either. She recounted an occasion when she glanced at a window pane to see an old woman looking back in. To her shock, she realised that it was herself. ‘You see, it all happens on the outside. Inside, one doesn’t change.’

Nor did her good manners or generosity. Journalists’ interviews usually involved tea in china cups and platefuls of dainty crustless sandwiches. Later on, Molly’s famously strong cocktails appeared, along with equally impressive observations. At an interview, I asked her to define good behaviour. The answer came back in a flash. ‘Never telling all, keeping a smiling face when things are going against you, consideration, good manners, punctuality and never boasting.’ She never forgot the rules she parodied.

Molly Keane died on April 22nd 1996, but her legacy and memory lives on, helped by a biography, written by her daughter, Sally Phipps. Molly also became a member of Aosdana - ‘people of the arts,’ in 1981.

Her legacy also remains at her Ardmore home, Dysert, which has become an arts centre. Courses are held there, along with writers, retreats, readings and masterclasses and it sponsors a Molly Keane Creative Writing Award.

The Molly Keane Centre Those who feel that they `have a book in them’ are lucky to live in Ireland. They are well served with writers’ groups, literary festivals, courses and conferences, covering the wide range of literary topics and publishing methods which exist to-day. From on-line and self-publishing, to writers co-operatives, and subject matter ranging from crime and children’s books, to local history and biography, there is plenty of choice, plus support, available for hopeful authors.

A course or writers’ group can often be the best way to start for those who are not overly confident about their skills – or choice of subject matter. Potential writers can gain support and also inspiration and guidance in bringing their work to publication standard. When such a course takes place in the old home, under the care of one of her daughters, of an internationally famed author and playwright – atmosphere and inspiration are guaranteed.

The Molly Keane House, at Dysert, in Ardmore, is now a Writers’ Centre, holding courses, gatherings and festivals, and based in the house where Molly wrote ‘Good Behaviour’ which brought her international achieved fame, a second time around. The House holds a range of events – from writers’ retreats to workshops and masterclasses and readings. If you would like to know more about what is available, then check the website. Next up (lockdowns allowing) is a Workshop with Writer in Residence Alison Driscoll, on October 24th, which focuses on early steps in a writer’s career, and planning your work. www.themollykeanehouse.com the world of the declinging status of the Anglo Irish. She knew their mansions well – from parties, hunts, and visits to friends, and drew inspiration from them for her writing.

Claverton Manor, Bath, Somerset, England. Molly was born at Ryston Lodge, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, but spent time as a toddler and in childhood at the Bath home of her Skrine grandparents, Claverton Manor. The magnificent 1830s house, with views over the beautiful Limpley Stoke Valley, is on the the site of a sixteenth century house. It is now the home of The American Museum in Bath.

Ballyrankin House, Co Wexford The Georgian mansion was Molly’s home from the age of twelve and she loved its beauty and grounds. It was where, as a bored teenager confined to bed, she started to write. In 1921, during the War of of Independence, on one summer night, her parents were ordered out, and the house was burned to the ground. Until her old age, Molly often visited the ruins and grounds.

French School, Bray, Co Wicklow Molly refused to attend boarding school in England, as her sisters did, and spent her school days at The French School, in Bray, which had been set up in 1864 by a French woman, Madame de Mailly. Academically, it was not as highly regarded as such schools as Alexandra College in Dublin. It attracted slightly `less wealthy’ Protestants – a fact which added to its snobbery. Molly felt out of place at the school, and had few happy memories. She was in her last days at French School when Ballyrankin was burnt.

Woodroof, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Molly became close friends with the children of the house, Silvia and John Perry, and spent considerable amounts of time there. Woodroof became almost a second home when she left school. This might have been helped by the fact that like most young girls, her mother’s wariness about its milieu added to its attraction! Its friendly, caring hosts, plus the sophisticated atmosphere and wide range of guests attracted her. She would later co-author a play with John Perry.

Belville House, Cappoquin, Co Waterford. This was Molly’s much loved marital home, where she lived with her much loved husband Bobby and daughters Sally and Virginia. Her writing allowed breaks in London, but she loved to work in her garden, as well as hunting and visiting her many local friends. After Bobby’s death, her memories of happier days there, plus its maintenance costs eventually led her to sell it.

Dysert, Ardmore, Co Waterford After some years of renting and finding a new life for herself after the death of her beloved husband Bobby, Molly moved to the cliff top cottage with beautiful sea views, and set about making it a comfortable home. She looked after her daughters, cooked and visited friends old and new. She also found her writing inspiration again, and there are pictures of her tucked up in bed, manuscript in one hand, with her much loved little dog Hero, under her arm. She lived there for over forty years, as a fulfilled and loved member of the community.