Brighid McLaughlin: ‘When Hollywood giant Robert Towne won an Oscar for the script for Chinatown, he didn’t let on he paid my friend Ed to help write it’

Years ago I used to see this very tall man in his 70s pass by the half-door every evening in Dalkey, heading towards Coliemore Harbour. Wearing a tweed deerstalker hat with big ear flaps, flying in the sea wind and a huge cigar stapled to his lips, he had a little dog as a companion. He looked a picture of contentment. Yet, when I said hello, he never acknowledged me. He just kept ­walking.