Frank Carson: Belfast comedian honoured with Blue Plaque

Frank Carson is buried in Milltown Cemetery in Belfast.

He had joked more than once that the words inscribed on his headstone should be “Frank Carson, Rest in Peace.” And underneath, “Quiet, isn’t it?”

Dan Gordon, who wrote and performed his acclaimed one man show ‘Frank Carson – A Rebel Without a Pause’, said Carson has earned the plaque.

“Frank Carson was quintessentially Belfast. He was simultaneously soft, hard, joyous, exuberant, charitable, loyal, thoughtful and driven,” Gordon said.

“A cornerstone of comedy for 50 years. His voice and presence were unmistakable and he was a determined pioneer in local broadcasting,” he said.

Chris Spurr, chairman of the Ulster History Circle, said the organisation is “delighted to commemorate this cracker of a comedian with a blue plaque at the former school he attended”.

“Any celebration’s a great celebration, especially in these troubled times. But there’s always trouble times and I think we all just need to look forward and find ways to make ourselves happy,” Tony Carson added.

“I think that’s what my dad did. He had that innate spirit in him that always looked for the happy notes that there are out there.

He’d always say: ‘that was yesterday, look forward to today and tomorrow’.”