Dear, precious friend to so many, Moira Brady Averill passed away on the 20th of September 2016. Moira was, as far as I’m concerned, the best comedian I have ever seen. Her death, as another comedian friend of mine articulated, is a devastating loss to comedy and everyone who never got to see her perform. She made those around her feel excited not just about writing and performing comedy but about the act of creating in general. This feeling extended to the creation of meaningful events, relationships and community with other people. She was a person who showed you that you could be honest about who you are while still retaining integrity, grace, compassion and humour.
On the 17th of September I wrote a letter to Moira to accompany a book entitled Excellent Women, which I had kept saying I would lend her. I was excited for her to read it as it was a very funny book from the 1950s written by an underrated female author. Moira was a kind-hearted champion of the underdog and the under-appreciated. She was building a small community for alternative stand-up comedy around her with like-minded (majoritively) female comedians who were drawn to her infectious energy and her ability to bring out the best in people. We stayed up late one night on the stoop of a hostel in Kilkenny after a comedy show she had organised discussing our grand and esoteric ambitions for comedy projects and the community for alternative comedy we wished to build up in Dublin. She was always enthusiastic and encouraging about any project you would approach her with. Much to my regret, I didn’t get the letter or book to her in time but I think some of what I wrote in that letter encapsulates the effect she had on me and perhaps the many other people who knew her:
‘…I have known you now several months, seeing you perform for the first time lit up a section of my brain where blood did not previously flow to. How satisfyingly original, witty and just superior you are to anybody else. I felt an instant romance towards you if that makes sense, a romance of admiration and pleasure in your humour and performance abilities. This is of course also a type of love. I wish I could express it better…’
Moira and I first made contact on the 29th of April 2016 and like so many others, I couldn’t help but instantly fall in love with this charming, intelligent and kind, oh so kind, woman. I only knew her for 144 days and I am heartbroken. If this is the effect of 144 days, I can’t even conceive the depth of loss for those who knew her longer and better than I did. I had one of the best summers of my life this year because of her friendship. I was quite surprised how few days it was when I actually sat down and worked it out. But I am so grateful for those days.
Moira’s husband beautifully and generously shared a description of her last moments. Moira died in style with a glass of champagne surrounded by her family.The day after her death, when I read back over the letter I never got to give her, I found what I had written in the last paragraph:
‘Only the other day we were drinking champagne in my sitting room. How incoherent the actual narrative of life is. Anyway, I have enclosed with this letter a copy of Barbara Pym’s Excellent Women. You are definitely one of the most excellent women I have ever met. I hope to drink champagne with you again soon.
Yours with love,
Ruth O’Kelly Hunter
