News about the Irish & Irish American culture, music, news, sports. This is hosted by the Irish Aires radio show on KPFT-FM 90.1 in Houston, Texas (a Pacifica community radio station)

April 03, 2005

SF's Breakthrough in Elections

To receive this news via email, click HERE. No Message is necessary
Table of Contents - Overall
Table of Contents – Apr 2005
----

News about Ireland & the Irish

SF 04/03/05 SF Makes Breakthrough In Elections
IT 04/04/05 FF Set To Retain Majority On Údarás Authority
EX 04/03/05 No National Day Of Mourning For Pope –V(2)A
IO 04/03/05 Pope Is Remembered At Knock Service –V
EX 04/03/05 Support Wanes For FG, Labour & Green Coalition
IO 04/03/05 Family To Tell Adams Of 'IRA Murder Trial Threats'
IO 04/03/05 Family To Challenge Restrictions To Inquest Evidence
SM 04/03/05 New Ulster Newspaper Vows To Ban Sectarian Politics
IT 04/04/05 Objections To Superpub On St Stephen's Green
MA 04/03/05 Brian O'Byrne Finds Acclaim, Passion On NY Stage

******************************************

http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/9101

Sinn Féin Makes Historic Breakthrough In Údarás Na Gaeltachta Elections

Published: 3 April, 2005

Sinn Féin General Secretary Mitchel McLaughlin has described the election of Gráinne
Mhic Géidigh as Sinn Féin's first representative on the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta
as an'historic breakthrough' for the party. Mr. McLaughlin is in in Dungloe this afternoon
for the election count.

Mr. McLaughlin also congratulated Seán Mac Donnchadh and Colm Ó Ceannabháin
who ran for the party in Meath and Galway.

Mr. McLaughlin said:

"The election of Gráinne Mhic Géidigh as Sinn Féin's first representative on the Board
of Údarás na Gaeltachta is an historic breakthrough for the party. Our strong showing in
the three constituencies of Donegal, Galway and Meath shows that support for Sinn
Féin in growing and I want to thank all those who voted for our party.

"Sinn Féin stood in this election on our agenda for change in relation to the role of
Údarás na Gaeltachta, re-building the peace process and campaigning for Irish re-
unification.

" Sinn Féin will use our mandate for change and our priorities on the Board of Údarás
na Gaeltachta will be job creation, reform of Údarás na Gaeltachta to make it relevant,
accountable and democratic and an integrated strategic plan, which would look at all the
language needs of the Gaeltachtaí.

******************************************

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2005/0404/900228532HM6UDARASNEWS.html

FF Set To Retain Majority On Údarás Authority

Gaeltacht regions elect new representative body

Lorna Siggins, Western Correspondent

Fianna Fáil was set to retain its majority on Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Gaeltacht
development authority, last night as counting continued in Connemara.

However, Fianna Fáil's ambition to take all six seats in the Galway Gaeltacht appeared
to have been thwarted, while in Donegal Sinn Féin returned its first representative to the
Gaeltacht authority.

A low overall turnout of 40 per cent but a strong vote in non-Irish-speaking city areas of
the Galway Gaeltacht saw former Fianna Fáil councillor Val Hanley and the Progressive
Democrats outgoing Údarás member Seán Creaven receiving high first preferences.

However, Fianna Fáil's Seán Ó Tuairisg was topping the poll at the 10th count in
Carraroe Community Centre, closely followed by Independent Seosamh Ó Cuaig.

It was expected that Fianna Fáil would retain four of the six seats in the final shake-up.

In Donegal, sitting Fianna Fáil Údarás members Daithí Alcorn and Brian Ó Dómhnaill
were elected on the first and second counts. Sinn Féin's Gráinne Mhic Géidigh took the
third of four seats in this constituency, with Fine Gael taking the last.

A mother of four, Ms Mhic Géidigh maintained the vote of her Sinn Féin counterpart,
Donegal councillor Pearse Doherty, from last year's local elections in almost all polling
booths in the Gaeltacht area.

However, Sinn Féin recorded a disappointing performance in Galway, with its candidate
Colm Ó Ceannabháin taking less than half the number of first preferences polled by
Republican Sinn Féin's Tomás Ó Curraoin.

Seats in six of the Gaeltacht's seven constituencies were filled by early evening
yesterday, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael sharing wins in the two seats of Kerry and
Mayo, and Fine Gael holding its own in Cork. The sitting Labour and Independent
candidates were returned in Waterford and Meath, where turnouts of 70 per cent were
recorded.

Seventeen of the 20 seats on the authority are elected, while three are nominees of the
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Fianna Fáil took almost half of the seats in the last election in December 1999. The
status quo was maintained in Mayo, with the two outgoing Erris candidates, Ian
McAndrew (FG) and Tim Quinn (FF), retaining their seats. The third candidate, Seán
Mhici Ó Gallchobhair (FF) from Achill, put in a strong performance, given that two-thirds
of the electorate is in the Erris region, but both Mr McAndrew and Mr Quinn were
elected on the first count. Turnout in Mayo was 43 per cent.

Two sitting Údarás candidates and serving county councillors retained their seats on the
Gaeltacht authority in Kerry. Three candidates - two Fianna Fail and one Fine Gael -
stood for two seats, while Sinn Féin withdrew from the contest last month.

Turnout in Kerry was just over 50 per cent, but the Iveragh peninsula some 90 miles
away from west Kerry failed to return its own representative. Fianna Fáil's Breandán
Mac Gearailt topped the poll with 1,599 votes, and Fine Gael's Séamus Cosai Mac
Gearailt also exceeded the Kerry quota with 1,454 votes.

In Cork, Fine Gael's Micheál Ó Scanaill also retained his seat, when he exceeded the
quota on the second count. Just over 2,000 voters in the Cork Gaeltacht turned out for
Saturday's poll, with three candidates - one Fine Gael, one Fianna Fáil and one
Independent - running for one seat. Over 200 votes separated Fianna Fáil's Aindreas Ó
Muineacháin from Mr Ó Scanaill at the first count, and transfers ensured Mr Ó Scanaill's
return on the second count.

In Co Waterford's Gaeltacht area of Ring/Old Parish, the Labour Party's Fiachra Ó
Céilleachair held his seat by a comfortable margin.

Mr Ó Céilleachair, a former member of Waterford County Council, current member of
Dungarvan Town Council and outgoing Údarás representative, was one of four
candidates standing for one seat in this constituency. Turnout was high at about 70 per
cent, and he was declared elected just over an hour after the count began in Ring's
community centre yesterday morning.

In Meath, a turnout of almost 70 per cent saw sitting Údarás candidate Cathal Seoighe
(Ind) returned on the first count, when he exceeded the quota of 421 by 17 votes. Four
candidates stood for one seat, with Fianna Fáil's Una Ní Chonaire polling 231 first
preferences, Sinn Féin's Seán Mac Donncha polling 176 votes, and the Green Party
getting just five votes.

Results from the elections were compiled by Michelle McDonagh, Joan Duignan,
Michael Commins, Anne Lucey, Olivia Kelleher, Eoin McGarvey and Aileen Mulhall.

© The Irish Times

******************************************


The body of Pope John Paul II in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace yesterday. Photograph: Gianni Giansanti/Vatican Pool/Getty Images

Joe O'Brien reports on the news that there is to be no national day of mourning in Ireland
http://dynamic.rte.ie/av/2035718.smil

Orla O'Donnell, Dublin Correspondent, reports on a special mass held in Dublin's Pro
Cathedral
http://dynamic.rte.ie/av/2035719.smil

Audio links to the Pope's 1979 homilies and speeches in Ireland are available on the
site, http://www.catholiccommunications.ie/popeireland1979
----

http://www.examiner.ie/pport/web/ireland/Full_Story/did-sg8CJwFpSYZqEsgTbBP2fa91M.asp

No National Day Of Mourning For Pope –V(2)A

By Paul O'Brien

THERE will not be a national day of mourning for the Pope, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
said yesterday.

However, flags will continue to fly at half mast on all public buildings until the Pope's
funeral. In addition, Mr Ahern said the Government would fully involve itself in Church
services.

These will include diocesan Masses for the Pope at 7.30pm tonight in St Patrick's
Cathedral, Armagh, to be celebrated by Most Rev Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh
and Primate of All Ireland, and 8pm in St Macartan's Cathedral, Monaghan, to be
celebrated by Most Rev Joseph Duffy, Bishop of Clogher.

Both the Taoiseach and President Mary McAleese will attend a Mass of remembrance
at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin at 5.45pm tomorrow evening. The mass will be
concelebrated by Most Rev Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of
Ireland, and Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland.

The President will lead a national delegation to the Pope's funeral in the Vatican.

"We won't have a national day of mourning as such, but between now and the funeral,
we will fully participate in all [events], and we would ask people to fully comply not just
for one day, but for each day, with the flags at half mast, and to be involved in the
church services," Mr Ahern said at a press conference at Government Buildings
yesterday.

A Government meeting, which was due to be held in Cork on Wednesday to mark the
city's year as European Capital of Culture, has been cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Apostolic Nunciature in Ireland will open a book of condolence at the
Nunciature, located at 183 Navan Road, Dublin 7, where it can be signed today,
tomorrow and Wednesday between 10am and 3pm.

The Irish Bishops' Conference has opened an online book, to which messages can be
sent via the website of the Catholic Communications Office.

Messages can be emailed to info@catholiccommunications.ie

The office also has a special feature on its website to mark the Pope's death.

******************************************

Jim Fahy, Western Correspondent, reports on a ceremony at the shrine in Knock
http://dynamic.rte.ie/av/2035726.smil
----

http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=113936360&p=yy393694x&n=113936969

Pope Is Remembered At Knock Service –V

03/04/2005 - 16:35:28

The Pope has been remembered at ceremonies to mark Divine Mercy Sunday today in
Knock, Co Mayo.

The feast was of particular personal significance to the Pontiff.

Knock parish priest Monsiegnor Joseph Quinn was master of ceremonies during John
Paul's visit there in 1979.

He has vivid memories of that day, in particular the anointing of the sick: "In the Basilica
for example it was packed with invalids, people in wheelchairs, and stretchers and he
spoke to them first and he went down and personally met as many as time permitted
and it was all very moving.

"He spoke to them about suffering and the kind of things that he said were very relevant
for himself in the last few days."

******************************************

http://www.examiner.ie/pport/web/ireland/Full_Story/did-sg-DTBt3f0A0AsgTbBP-2fa91M.asp

Support Wanes For FG, Labour And Green Coalition

By Paul O'Brien

PUBLIC support for an alternative government coalition of Fine Gael, Labour and the
Green Party has waned, according to a new opinion poll.

Twelve months ago, combined support for the rainbow parties stood at 40%, giving the
potential coalition a narrow, two-point lead over the existing Fianna Fáil-PD
government, which was on 38%.

The latest poll, however, indicates Fianna Fáil and the PDs enjoying a collective 45% of
the vote, 10 points ahead of the rainbow parties' combined share.

It showed Fianna Fáil on 41% (up six since March 2004), Fine Gael on 19% (down two),
Labour on 11% (down one), Sinn Féin on 8% (down two), the Greens on 5% (down
two), the PDs on 4% (up one), and Independents on 12% (unchanged).

The results will be a worry for the opposition parties, with little in the way of solace in the
poll.

Compared with similar poll findings in February, it shows that the gap in support for the
Fianna Fáil-PD coalition and the rainbow alternative has actually widened in the past
four weeks, despite two by-elections in that period when the Government parties fared
poorly.

The electorates of Meath and Kildare North were perceived to have delivered "a
message" to the Government when plumping for Fine Gael candidate Shane McEntee
and Independent Catherine Murphy respectively.

But the latest poll appears to have underlined once more how little use by-elections
serve as an indicator of wider public opinion.

In February, prior to the by-elections, the gap between the Fianna Fáil-PD coalition and
the rainbow alternative was only eight points.

It widened by a further two points in the time since, giving the government parties their
combined 10-point lead.

In terms of personal approval ratings, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny dropped three
points to 43% since February, while Labour leader Pat Rabbitte fell five points to 47%.

However, approval ratings for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern (by five points to 56%) and
Tánaiste Mary Harney (by four points to 48%) were also down.

Despite the fallout from the Robert McCartney murder and the Northern Bank robbery,
in both of which the IRA has been implicated, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams enjoyed a
bounce in support, up three points to 34%.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent also saw an increase in the personal approval
ratings, up four points to 39%.

The poll was conducted last Thursday by Millward Brown/IMS. Some 1,108 people were
interviewed in their homes at 100 sampling points throughout all Dáil constituencies.
The poll has a margin of error of 3%.

******************************************

http://www.online.ie/news/viewer.adp?article=3223247

Family To Tell Adams Of 'IRA Murder Trial Threats'

online.ie
2005-04-03 16:50:01+01

Gerry Adams will face demands for alleged IRA threats against a murder victim's family
to be lifted during talks in Belfast this week.

Relatives of Jimmy McGinley will also urge the Sinn Féin President to use any influence
he has to get the man convicted of his manslaughter expelled from the Provisionals.

Derry man Bart Fisher, 43, was sentenced to three years in jail in February over the
killing.

Mr McGinley, 23, was stabbed through the heart during a fight in the city in October
2003.

Even though Fisher has denied being in the IRA, the dead man's family refuse to
believe him.

They allege that members of the paramilitary organisation intimidated them throughout
his trial.

The victim's mother Eileen today disclosed she is to meet Mr Adams at his west Belfast
offices on Tuesday.

Mrs McGinley will be accompanied by her son Eugene and her sister Kathleen, who she
claims were summoned by the IRA to clandestine meetings during the trial to be told
which family members could attend the court hearings.

Despite Sinn Féin insisting this did not happen, she said: "I want Mr Adams to hear from
Eugene and Kathleen themselves what happened.

"He'll be told the names of the men who were at the meetings and he'll be told where
they took place.

"My family are not lying. These meetings did take place."

The McGinleys' demands have piled new pressure on republicans as they attempt to
regroup from the Robert McCartney murder case.

Mr McCartney's sisters have pledged to continue their campaign until the IRA men
blamed for battering the father-of-two to death outside a Belfast bar are brought to
justice.

After Fisher was sentenced he issued a statement confirming he was an Irish republican
but denying any links with the Provos.

Yet his victim's family remain unconvinced.

Mrs McGinley added: "I want the IRA in Derry to apologise for treating us like this.

"We're a grieving family and they've no right doing this to us.

"I want them to state whether or not they consider my Jimmy's killing to be a crime and I
want Bart Fisher expelled from the IRA.

"I want the IRA to leave us alone to get on with rebuilding our family."

A Sinn Féin spokesman said Mr Adams had always declared his willingness to meet
with the McGinleys.

He would not be drawn on Fisher's status, other than to point out his denial of
membership.

The spokesman added: "You can't go around publicly speculating about who's in the
IRA and who's not. I don't know."

******************************************

http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=73456218&p=7345659z&n=73456689

Family To Challenge Restrictions To Inquest Evidence

03/04/2005 - 12:05:19

A family is to take a court action against the State questioning the legality of the
restriction of medical evidence during an inquest, it has emerged.

Relations of 29-year-old Stephen Keeler are taking a case against the Attorney General
claiming part of the Coroners Act 1962 is unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court has ruled that, under the provisions of the existing Coroners Act, a
coroner may not take evidence from more than two medical witnesses.

The family's solicitor Michael Finucane said this case was the only to establish what led
to the 29-year-old's death at the inquest.

He said: "The inquiry that the family are anxious to have conducted would mean calling
more than two doctors."

Mr Keeler, who was just 29 and from Dublin, died unexpectedly after a short illness on
July 10, 2002. He had attended a general practitioner and visited a number of hospitals
in the short time before his death.

"Expert advice from an accident and emergency consultant from the UK advised that a
number of doctors would have to give evidence to explain the sequence of events," Mr
Finucane, who informed the Dublin City Coroner's Court of the impending case, said.

The Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, has previously called for the legislation to be
changed and highlighted during many inquests the limitation of section 26 (2) of the
Coroners Act has for medical cases.

Dr Farrell has said that it means he has to choose just one medical practitioner in cases
where many might also hold key evidence.

Currently the legislation restricts the number of doctors that can give evidence before
the Coroner's Court to one – unless the majority of jurors request a second expert to
give information to explain the case.

The Justice Department said the drafting of a new Bill to reform the current Coroners
Act of 1962 is underway.

The constitutional review, which is being taken by Mr Keeler's brother, Anthony, against
the State and the Attorney General, challenges that the current legislation guiding
inquests violates Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and is
unconstitutional.

"We are challenging this on the basis that it is incompatible with the Right to Life as
stated in the Constitution," Mr Finucane said. "We argue that part of the Right to Life
guarantee encompasses an effective investigation of an untimely death."

The solicitor said the case would hopefully come to the High Court before the end of the
year.

Mr Finucane said that leading law in the UK had shown that the inquest must satisfy
certain standards and it could not due to the current restriction in Irish legislation.

"It causes real problems in the Keeler case there are several hospitals involved," Mr
Finucane said.

"The way medicine is working these days you can easily get through two doctors in a
hospital visit.

"It is not just pie in the sky legal argument, it has real consequences."

******************************************

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4348192

New Ulster Newspaper Vows To Ban Sectarian Politics

By Alan Erwin, PA

Newspaper wars in Northern Ireland intensified today with a new title pledging to banish
sectarian politics from its pages.

The Daily View goes on sale with a plan to lure readers across Greater Belfast through
what it called a new vision for the city.

Owned by the same group that publishes the Belfast News Letter, it will circulate in
compact form from Monday to Friday and target the 20-45 age group.

Even though four morning newspapers are already battling for readers in the city, editor
Greg Harkin insisted it would offer a real alternative.

He said: "The Daily View is different in that we are completely non-political, both in
content and in ethos .

"The people of Belfast and surrounding towns and cities are fed up with the green and
orange of politics and are more interested these days in real politics, that is the bread
and butter issues, social issues, lifestyle and property. We will give these issues the
prominence they deserve."

To succeed, the paper must compete with the Belfast Telegraph, which has just
introduced a new morning edition, a revamped Irish News, the News Letter, and the
fledgling Daily Ireland.

Some industry analysts suspect that the market is already approaching saturation point.

But Harkin, a former editor of the Daily Mirror's Northern Ireland edition, believes there
is a yawning gap for a mid-market aspirational title.

"Many of the people we have spoken to in research and focus groups, as well as with
advertising agencies and ordinary people, believe the Daily View should have come out
five years ago," he said.

"Many others believe the time is right now. We believe the timing is right now."

Its owners, Local Press Limited, already publish a range of newspapers on both sides of
the Irish border, including the News Letter, Derry Journal and Donegal Democrat.

In a multi-million pound investment, 21 journalists have been recruited to make up a
separate editorial team.

He is openly chasing the family market, citing encouraging tests on both male and
female focus groups.

Supplements will concentrate on lifestyle, property, money, entertainments and sports.
But Northern Ireland's traditional brand of politics do not feature heavily in Harkin's
plans.

"Not if I can help it," he stressed.

"We may park the odd sectarian slanging match back on page 20 somewhere but if a
local politician wants to talk to us about the health service or the education service, then
that is a different matter."

Priced 50p, no circulation goals were disclosed.

The new editor would only say: "That's a commercial secret, but we are printing 30,000
copies in the first week."
s

******************************************

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2005/0404/1212998157HM3SUPERPUB.html

Objections To Plan For 'Superpub' On St Stephen's Green

Frank McDonald, Environment Editor

Objectors to plans for a potential "superpub" on St Stephen's Green in Dublin have
warned that the character of the area would suffer if An Bord Pleanála approves the
scheme.

Capital Bars, which operates several "superpubs" in the city centre, including Cafe en
Seine, Break for the Border, the George and Zanzibar, is seeking permission for a
change of use of the former Planet Hollywood premises.

The company, run by Liam O'Dwyer, wants to turn the 1,800 sq m restaurant opposite
the Luas Sandyford line terminus into a bar and restaurant with an entertainment-dance
area.

This was approved by Dublin City Council in November.

However, the council's decision was appealed by An Taisce, Bank of Scotland (Ireland),
the Fitzwilliam Hotel and the Royal College of Surgeons because of fears that it would
lead to the development of a substantial late-night drinking venue.

An Bord Pleanála is due to make a decision on the appeals this week. If it upholds the
council's decision, the objectors believe such a move could set a precedent for the
development of other late-night entertainment venues around the green.

"Dublin City Council has for some time acknowledged the undesirability of the
proliferation of large public houses in the Temple Bar area of the city, and has been
adopting a much stricter approach," said Ms Valerin O'Shea, of An Taisce.

Describing St Stephen's Green as "one of the country's most important amenity and
historic areas", she said a similar approach should be adopted to protect it against
"undesirable" developments such as super-pubs.

Although the planning application envisages a large area of the premises being
operated as a restaurant, Ms O'Shea said experience suggested it was likely that the
premises would "in effect, operate as an extremely large public house".

"In our view the number of 'superpubs' on streets adjacent to St Stephen's Green is
already excessive," she said.

The appeal submitted by planning consultants RPS McHugh for the Fitzwilliam Hotel
warned that the proposed development could serve as a precedent for a "fundamental
change" in the content of land uses on the west side of St Stephen's Green.

Planning consultants Tom Philips and Associates argued on behalf of Bank of Scotland
(Ireland) that the proposed change of use could give rise to a number of "undesirable
adverse impacts" that could affect the overall amenity of the area.

Attempts to contact Capital Bars to comment on the objections drew no response.

© The Irish Times

******************************************

http://www.macleans.ca/culture/news/shownews.jsp?content=e040308A

Unassuming Irish Actor Brian O'Byrne Finds Acclaim, Passion On New York Stage

Connor Ennis

NEW YORK (AP) - Brian F. O'Byrne chuckles when he thinks of how his career as an
actor began - out of fear of having no one to go pub crawling with.

His two closest friends were getting ready to enrol in drama school at Dublin's Trinity
College, so he auditioned too. He quickly realized it was the right choice.

"The day I went into drama school I thought, 'Well, this is something I could be
passionate about for the rest of my life,' " says O'Byrne, who had almost no exposure to
live theatre when growing up in County Cavan, Ireland.

Almost two decades later, the 37-year-old O'Byrne is critically respected and
increasingly sought after. He won a Tony award for his performance as a child-
murdering serial killer in last year's Frozen; he had a small but pivotal part in the
Academy Award-winning film Million Dollar Baby; and he's currently acting in the
acclaimed Doubt.

A slim man with a boyish face and a head of thinning light-brown hair, O'Byrne - whose
first name is pronounced BREE-un - is dressed casually in jeans, a green T-shirt with a
long-sleeved white shirt underneath and black socks. He will not put on his shoes until
he's called for a meeting with the cast and crew.

Like his dress, his manner - enthusiastic and earnest without being affected - would
befit a teenager or college student.

In conversation, O'Byrne sweeps over a range of topics in an Irish brogue that is far
removed from the Bronx accent he adopts for Doubt, which has moved to Broadway
after a successful off-Broadway run. He talks about his admiration for the late
photographer Richard Avedon, whom he met while doing Frozen. He talks about the
chances of the New York Mets winning a pennant this season. Earlier, he listened to
The Rolling Stones while flipping through a book of photography by Diane Arbus,
bought after he saw an exhibit of her work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

"Like all great actors I know, he is a staggeringly curious human being," said Doug
Hughes, who directed O'Byrne in both Frozen and Doubt.

"He's interested in lot of things: music and photography and painting and history and the
wild goings on in his native country. He's a great observer of the passing scene."

But when the talk turns to theatre, particularly new dramas written by contemporary
playwrights, O'Byrne sits forward in his chair and becomes especially animated.

"There is nothing better," O'Byrne says of theatre, his voice rising almost to a yell.

And many are saying that, this season, Doubt is among the best.

It is a gripping story of the confrontation between Sister Aloysius, the principal of St.
Nicholas Church School in the Bronx in 1964, and Father Flynn, the well-liked parish
priest. The nun suspects the priest of molesting a male student.

As written by John Patrick Shanley and played by O'Byrne, Father Flynn is, at least on
the surface, an admirable man. He teaches physical education, is devoted to the parish
and makes time for the students. One scene in which O'Byrne is alone on stage giving a
speech to an unseen group of students about basketball showcases the gruff
tenderness of the priest that makes him so likable as he alternates between lecturing,
joking and counselling.

However, there is enough darkness to O'Byrne's Father Flynn that the audience is
never sure what he is capable of doing.

"He's so peculiarly right for it," says Shanley, who cast O'Byrne after seeing him in
Frozen. "He's charismatic, light and dark and charming."

O'Byrne alone among the four cast members knows the truth about Father Flynn's guilt.
And he's not telling. "It's a lovely little secret," he says.

O'Byrne came to New York after graduating from Trinity in the late 1980s. His uncle, an
electrician, secured a green card for him and it was not long before the actor found a
home at the Irish Repertory Theatre.

He soon began getting steady work, though he and a partner often took to the bars of
the East Village to perform shows they had written themselves, passing the hat after
each performance. A break came when O'Byrne was asked to replace a cast member in
The Sisters Rosensweig on Broadway. After he finished his run in the play, he returned
to Ireland, proud of his time on Broadway but still hungry for acting success.

It was then that he began working with playwright Martin McDonagh and director Garry
Hynes. The trio soon found themselves back on Broadway, first in The Beauty Queen of
Leenane and then The Lonesome West. O'Byrne received Tony nominations for his
performances in each play. He also discovered his love of debuting a role in an original
work.

"It's like you're given a blank canvas," he says. "The creative element is very different in
working in a new play, I think. It is much more collaborative. Your response is untainted
because the material is so fresh."

He got that chance with Frozen, for which Hughes offered him the role without an
audition, and he is getting it again with Doubt.

"(Acting is) a calling and Brian exemplifies that calling," director Hughes says. "His
appointment with the audience every night is the blessed event of his life.'

----
Table of Contents - Overall
Table of Contents – Apr 2005
To receive this news via email, click HERE. No Message is necessary
Posted by: Unknown / 10:26 PM
Comments: Post a Comment

<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?