Ireland

Brian Friel legacy to be celebrated at MacGill Summer School

The life of Brian Friel will be celebrated at a specially extended MacGill Summer School in Co Donegal. Picture by Brian Morrison/PA
The life of Brian Friel will be celebrated at a specially extended MacGill Summer School in Co Donegal. Picture by Brian Morrison/PA The life of Brian Friel will be celebrated at a specially extended MacGill Summer School in Co Donegal. Picture by Brian Morrison/PA

BRIAN Friel is being honoured at a specially extended MacGill Summer School which begins in Co Donegal today.

An extra day has been added to the annual programme of events in Glenties to celebrate the playwright's life and work.

Organisers said this would enable them to "pay homage to Brian Friel who, through his theatre and short stories, has left us a wonderfully rich literary legacy".

Friel, who was born in Co Tyrone and went to school in Derry, died in October aged 86 and is buried in Glenties, which he had described as his spiritual home.

Co-founder of the Field Day Theatre Company, he was acclaimed for works including Philadelphia, Here I Come!, Translations and Dancing at Lughnasa, which was made into a film.

The writer was a friend and admirer of the MacGill Summer School, now in its 36th year, which celebrated his achievements on several occasions.

This year's programme will "remember him and celebrate his life and work again, focusing on a neglected part of that work, the highly accomplished short stories, with readings, documentaries, talks and performances".

The Republic's Arts Council is to stage a series of events dedicated to the playwright, including daily readings.

Actor Stephen Rea will perform two readings of Friel's material this weekend, including A Man’s World during a visit to the home of the McLoone sisters tomorrow - the inspiration and setting for Dancing At Lughnasa.

Actress Rosaleen Linehan along with Bríd NíNeachtain and Brid Brennan - all of whom performed in the original production which wowed Broadway - will also read memorable scenes from the play.

As well as remembering the life of Friel, the summer school will focus on Ireland in 2016, looking back on how the country has evolved over the last century and what the future could or should be.

The French Ambassador to Ireland, Jean-Pierre Thébault, is due to officially open the summer school tomorrow in the Highlands Hotel in Glenties and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin deliver the 16th annual John Hume Lecture.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will also deliver an address on Monday during a session on the future of politics and governance, while Garda Commissioner Noirín O'Sullivan will be among experts taking part in a panel discussion on international terrorism on Wednesday.

Discussions will be held about the aftermath of the Brexit referendum and climate change in the programme of debates, concerts, tours and other cultural events which runs until July 22.

For further information see www.macgillsummerschool.com