BBC NORTHERN IRELAND SATURDAY-NIGHT THEATRE: THE UNFORTUNATE FURSEY (FEBRUARY 24, 1990)

Poor Fursey, a simple (and perhaps simple-minded) monk in the 10th-century Ireland Monastery of Clonmacnoise.  The forces of evil have descended upon the monastery and the unfortunate Fursey cannot manage to pronounce the words of exorcism.  As a result, Fursey is expelled from the monastery, bringing with him 'a fantastic procession of cacodemons, hippogriffs, imps, furies, and other dreadfuil creatures, not to mention the gentleman in black."

One of the truly great novels of comic fantasy, The Unfortunate Fursey was published in 1946 by Irish fantasist Mervyn Wall, who return to the hapless monk two years later with The Return of Fursey.  while never a runaway bestseller, Fursey's misadventures have entertained readers for eighty years.

This radio adaptation of the first book was directed by Eoin O'Callaghan.   Christina Reid adapted Wall's novel for the broadcast.  John Hewitt stars as Fursey, while Timothy Bateson plays the Devil.  Other performers include Fenella Fielding, Richard Howell, Ann Manahan,  Birdy Sweeney, Maurice 
O'Callaghan, Gerry McSorley, Joe McPartland, Annalivia Ryan, B. J. Hogg, Louis Rolston, and Maureen Dow.

Wall (1908-1997) wrote four additional novels, but none hard the staying power of the Fursey duology.  He also wrote two plays, a collection of short stories, and a volume of history.  His day jobs saw him as a pubic servant for 41 years, including working for Radio Eireann from 1948 to 1957, and as Secretary to the Arts Council from 1957 to 1975.

Both Fursey novels are currently in print from Valancourt Books.

Enjoy this sly adaptation.

https://archive.org/details/mervyn-wall-unfortunate-fursey