Percy French
William Percy French (May 1 1854–January 24 1920) was one of Ireland's foremost entertainers in his day. He graduated from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) as a civil engineer in 1881 and joined the Board of Works in County Cavan. When the Board reduced its staff around 1887, French turned to journalism as the editor of The Jarvey, a weekly comic paper.
When the paper failed, French's long and successful career as a songwriter and entertainer began. He became renowned for composing and singing comic songs and gained considerable distinction with such songs as Phil the Fluters Ball, Slattery's Mounted Fut, and The Mountains O' Mourne. But perhaps one of French's most famous songs is Are Ye Right There Michael, a song ridiculing the state of the rail system in rural County Clare. The song caused such embarrassment to the rail company that it lead to a libel action against French, though this ultimately failed. (It is said that French arrived late for the libel hearing at the court, and when questioned by the judge on his lateness, he responded "Your honour, I travelled by the West Clare Railway," resulting in the case being thrown out.)
William Percy French died from pneumonia in 1920 at the age of 65. He was buried in Formby in Lancashire.
