Organic News
Obituary - Martin Brennan
I was greatly saddened at the death of Martin Brennan in late July after a long illness. Martin was the wildlife correspondent of Organic Matters for almost eight years during which time he chronicled the natural year in his lovely poetic style, frequently quoting apt verses from poets now consigned to history.
Martin’s columns were avidly read and accessible to all with an interest in ecology. He was a keen observer of the changing seasons and their effects on all of nature. His ‘what to look for’ tips ensured that a walk in the wild was never boring at any time of year.
An intensely private man, Martin liked order in his life. His columns were never late and always arrived well researched and presented requiring little proofing or amendment. He continued to write for as long as he was able and lived life to the full until the end. We spoke in June about a return trip he had planned to Canada which had to be cut short because of his sister’s death.
Despite his shy nature he was open about his illness and always willing to discuss his progress in coping with it. The dignity and forbearance he displayed in facing his untimely death was an inspiration. He looked on life and death as part of the cyclical pattern of nature as exemplified by one of his favourite poets, Longfellow:
Turn, turn, my wheel!
All life is brief;
What now is bud will soon be leaf,
What now is leaf will soon decay
He is survived by his sister Ann and brothers Joe and Kevin. Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a anam.
Martin was my husband Pat’s first cousin. As often happens cousins drift apart, contact not being maintained as each lead their separate lives, paths crossing only at the usual family weddings and funerals.
The first time I met Martin Brennan, was at Pat’s sister’s wedding. That was around thirty years ago. The last time I met Martin was at the funeral of his sister Frances at the end of June. It was then while chatting with Martin that we became aware that he was the Martin Brennan responsible for eloquent writings in Organic Matters where he charted for us the comings and goings of the seasons. Articles that were full of hope and promise for those of us whose lives are so dependent on the seasons. Martin was passionate about nature, his writings interwoven with poetry, reminding us sometimes of our careless school years.
We talked about our lives, about his writing and his work. Martin said he would like to visit and see what we were ‘up to on the farm’, parting with a promise from him to visit. We hoped he would make it.
A month later Pat and I were back at the same church to attend Martin’s funeral. Since Martin’s death I have been reading some of his pieces. In the last column he wrote about the return of the swift, the coming of spring and the joy and hope that come with it. Martin was planning to see Canada before it was too late for him. He did manage to get to Canada but only for a very short time. His brother Joe accompanied him but it was there they got news of the death of his sister.
Martin was buried in a little country graveyard in Kilmoganny. The day was kind to us, a little breeze, and clouds in a blue sky and if you stood in the right place in the graveyard the sun warmed you. We left the graveyard with a feeling of Martins life, quiet, dignified, passionate, and over far too soon and also with a great sadness that we did not know him a lot better. To his brothers Joe and Kevin and sister Ann we offer our sincere sympathy.
Gillian Westbrook has been appointed to the new position of
General Manager with IOFGA. Coming from a background in the regulatory area...
