QUIZ: Evening Class

How well do you know the novel, Evening Class ? Answer these questions to find out and learn a bit more about the characters, along the way.

Circle of Friends
Stage Adaptation

An enchanting tale of first love, fierce loyalty and friendship set in 1950s Ireland. Elaine Murphy’s wonderful adaptation perfectly captures the warmth of Maeve’s trademark compassion and humour.

ECHOES: Maeve Binchy and Irish Writers

Echoes celebrates the work of Maeve Binchy and other renowned Irish writers. It takes place at Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th October 2019.

The Day of the Rose

Read the story of the Rosa Gordon Snell, grown by Colin Dickson. “Maeve and I both loved any excuse for a celebration”

Minding Frankie
Stage Play

Maeve Binchy’s Minding Frankie has been adapted for the stage by Shay Linehan. After a short tour in Ireland it is about to open at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.

School library dedicated to Maeve Binchy

The Holy Child School in Killiney dedicated its newly refurbished library to Maeve. Gordon was delighted to be asked to cut the ribbon and here is what he had to say about it.

Message from Gordon

Gordon Snell, Maeve’s husband, recalls her love of storytelling and her capacity for friendship.

Light a Penny Candle

Christine Green, Maeve Binchy’s agent, explains why her favourite is the first novel.

Film, TV and radio adaptations

Maeve Binchy’s novels and short stories have been adapted for film. TV and radio, including Echoes, The Lilac Bus, Tara Road and Circle of Friends.

Minding Frankie

Juliet Ewers, Director of Orion Fiction, explains why this is her favourite Maeve Binchy novel.

Maeve’s advice to writers

‘The most important thing to realise is that everyone is capable of telling a story. It doesn’t matter where we were born or how we grew up’ Maeve Binchy

Evening Class

Maeve Binchy’s cousin Kate, who is the reader on most of her audiobooks, explains why this is her favourite.

Circle of Friends

Carole Baron, Maeve Binchy’s publisher in the USA, explains why this is her favourite novel.

Can you describe an ordinary day?

My husband Gordon Snell and I get up at about 7 am in our little house 15 kilometres from Dublin. We have a big study up a spiral staircase in a lovely bright room and we try to be at our desks before 8.30am. We are both writers so we have plenty to do including … Read More

How do two writers cohabit in one home?

Two writers co habit very well in our home but that is mainly because Gordon is a very kind and unselfish man, everyone who knows him says that this is true. We work in a lovely sunny office, sitting side by side at a big long desk and we read each other stuff at the … Read More

Who has supported you in your life and career at the most?

I was much supported by my parents who believed I could do anything, run the world if I needed to. Then I had a great kind boss at the Irish Times who thought I could do anything and sent me to write about wars and economics and the Royal Family and gave me a great … Read More

What was your favourite book as a child?

Undoubtedly it was Winnie the Pooh. My parents would read it to me endlessly. I loved Kanga and Eeyore and thought of them as my friends. I used to ask where was I in the Hundred Acre Wood and my parents indulged me by saying I was on a tree or on a gate, then … Read More

When you were growing up did you have books in your home?

Yes, books were everywhere. Floor to ceiling were shelves of books. My father went to work by train every day. It was half an hour’s journey each way and he would read a paperback in four journeys. After supper we all sat down to read – it was long before TV, remember! Because I saw … Read More