Local writer recalls trip to Lebanon
It’s not often you get to meet your heroes, but Mullingar-based writer, Anthony Viney, realised a long standing ambition to meet war correspondent, the late Robert Fisk, in Beirut in 2013.
They were there to discuss the first draft of Anthony’s novel, ‘On the Road to Damascus’, a thriller inspired by his journey through Syria as the country descended into civil war.
With current events in Lebanon making the news headlines, his memories of his meeting with Fisk have come flooding back.
“It started with a chance encounter at a literary festival, where Fisk was the star guest,” said Anthony. “We got chatting. I had just returned from Syria and Robert was keen to find out more. He invited me to Beirut to discuss the [book] project.”
Anthony described Fisk as “a driven and intense man”. “He was keen to help me with my novel, and also generous with personal security advice, as I planned to tour Lebanon.”
Anthony found those security tips invaluable during his subsequent encounters with Hezbollah militants. “At a centre run by their fighters near Sidon, where a wreck of an Israeli tank and an improvised Hezbollah drone were on display, I found them curious about the reasons for my visit… suspicious too, but always very civil.”
Further north, in the Bekaa Valley, Anthony encountered another Hezbollah stronghold – their personnel managing an archaeological site. “They’re proud of the country’s heritage,” Anthony said.
In Beirut, once called The Paris of the East, and now under bombardment, Anthony found a city full of life, but tense, as Syrian refugees had flooded in to escape the civil war in that country. Paradoxically, many are now fleeing back to Syria to escape the current attacks.
As for the future of Lebanon, Anthony is fearful: “The country is a fragile mosaic made up of Muslim, Christian and Druze communities. They came to blows during their own civil war and if there is a full-scale Israeli invasion, the old wounds could open up.”
He is also worried about the safety of Irish peacekeepers, deployed on the Israel Lebanon border. “If it gets much worse, they could find themselves sitting ducks,” he said.
Would he return to Lebanon? “I hope so. It’s a great country and the historic sites are second to none. The people are tremendous – very friendly.”
Currently writing his second novel, Anthony maintains a keen eye on developments in Lebanon, and he will never forget that memorable encounter, in a café in Beirut, with his hero, Robert Fisk.
On the Road to Damascus is available at Just Books, Mullingar library, and on Amazon.