Christy Brown

Christy Brown (June 5, 1932 – 1981) was an Irish author, painter and poet, born in Crumlin, Dublin. One of thirteen surviving children, he suffered from cerebral palsy and was considered mentally disabled until he famously snatched a piece of chalk from his sister with his left foot.

His autobiography, My Left Foot, was later expanded into the novel Down All The Days, and became an international best seller, being translated into fourteen languages. There followed other novels including A Shadow on Summer. He also published a number of poetry collections including Come Softly to My Wake, published in America as Poems of Christy Brown. With his wife Mary Carr, he settled in Ballyheigue, Co Kerry, and also in Parbrook, Somerset, UK, where he died.

My Left Foot was filmed by Jim Sheridan in 1989 with a screenplay by Shane Connaughton. Daniel Day-Lewis starred as Christy while Brenda Fricker played the role of his mother.