Today in Irish History - 1923. Irish playwright Brendan Behan is born in Dublin. Much of Behan’s work was autobiographical, showcasing working class, Republican Dublin. His most famous work might be Borstal Boy, which took its title from the three years Behan spent in borstal for IRA activity. Behan suffered from the curse of many writers - alcoholism. “One drink is too many for me and a thousand not enough.” At his death at the tragically young age of 41, he received a Republican funeral and a huge send off from Dublin’s population. Photo: Behan with actor Jackie Gleason in 1960.