Christy Brown

Christy Brown (June 5, 1932 - September 6, 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; The novel was translated into fourteen languages. "Down all the days" was followed by a series of 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 (married October 5 1972), he settled in Ballyheigue, County Kerry and later, in Parbrook, Somerset, United Kingdom, where he died at the age of 49.

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 Brown's mother.

Trivia

The Irish rock band The Pogues paid tribute to Christy Brown with a song titled "Down All the Days". It is the 7th track on their 1989 recording, "Peace and Love".