User:Warchibold

Rory John Archbold

Rory John Archbold, 1942 - 1998, Balitore Co. Kildare.

Born Rory John, son of farmer Gregory and Miss Rose Archbold Rory attended Crookstown National school, Athy C.B.S and Knockbeg college Carlow, before setting off for England when he was 17 years old in the late 1950's.

From "reformed to reformer" - that's how alcoholic Rory Archbold saw himself. For the ex. actor, prisoner, soldier of fortune, sea man, cowboy and failed bank robber who admitted to downing 4 bottles of vodka a day, went on to help others with the same problems.

"Those Turbulent Times" a Book by Rory John Archbold was published by Zodiac Books in 1978.

From failed bank robber to Poet, failed bank robber Rory Archbold has launched himself on what he hopes will be a more successful career as a poet...

Co. Kildare born Rory, who was sentenced to a year in Mountjoy jail in 1973, after an attempted hold-up of a branch of the A.I.B (Allied Irish Bank) in Dublin's O' Connell Street, has just produced a book of his own poems. "Those Turbulent Times" tells of the authors 35 years of hell-raising around the world.

Rory who's list of previous occupations range from bar tending in New York to working as a merchant in Angola produced the 160 page book himself. "Most of the poems tell of the various escapades I have been involved in. I am an alcoholic and as a result I have been in and out of trouble all of my life. Besides my time in Mountjoy jail I also spent a year in prison in England for manslaughter. I have now kicked the booze habit and don't intend being in any more trouble".

"Sympathizer, sailor, mercenary and menace, actor, alcoholic, prisoner and pauper, occupation and afflictions experienced throughout, in harmony and hardship, in failure and in fault, but with little or nothing of gain or success. Experience to equip me with such unlimited material which today I've exploited in piecing together "Those Turbulent Times."

"A book of poetry, poetic tale and pity, of wars and rebellion, clergymen and criminals, drunkards and dropouts, a mixture of many yet derogatory to few, with a guarantee that if there isn't a lot to make you laugh there's at least a few to make you cry".