Archives for February 2014

Open meeting for all actors

The Executive of Irish Equity is holding an open meeting for all actors in the Republic of Ireland on March 9th at 2pm in Liberty Hall Theatre.

The purpose of this meeting is to engage the broader acting community in a conversation about the issues and challenges facing actors in modern day society.

The meeting is open to all actors, both members of the union and non-members are welcome and encouraged to participate in the discussion.

Eanna Casey from the Recorded Artists Actors Performers (RAAP) will give a presentation on the role of the collection society with emphasis on payments that accrue abroad because of legislative entitlement. RAAP for is an Irish not-for-profit organisation set up to ensure that performers receive the performance royalties that are due to them both nationally and globally.

Stephen Spence, Assistant General Secretary Equity UK will also address the meeting.

We look forward to a good discussion on the day.

ICTU Women’s Conference calls for immediate release of Margaretta D’Arcy

Delegates at the ICTU Women’s Conference have overwhelmingly backed an emergency motion calling for the immediate release of 79-year-old peace campaigner Margaretta D’Arcy on humanitarian grounds.

The conference in Whites Hotel, Wexford, heard that D’Arcy, who is being treated for cancer, has been imprisoned for eight weeks for refusing to swear a bond that she will not trespass on Shannon Airport runway.

D’Arcy is an actor, playwright, author and a founding member of the artists association Aosdána. She is a veteran peace campaigner who in recent years has led protests against the use of Shannon Airport by the US military.

Proposing the emergency motion that Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, move to release D’Arcy, SIPTU Campaigns and Equality Organiser, Ethel Buckley, described her as “a truly remarkable woman.”

“That a person who has always strove to highlight the best in humanity should be subjected to what she has described as amounting to a form of ‘sensory deprivation’ in the Irish prison system is a moral outrage,” she said.

“It is entirely appropriate that Justice Minister Alan Shatter should request that the Government instruct President Michael D Higgins to utilise the powers under Section 7 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993 and pardon Margaretta and bring her ordeal to an end,” she added.

ICTU Women’s Committee Secretary, Margaret Browne, said: “Margaretta D’Arcy is an amazing woman and, at 79, she is still campaigning and standing up for the disadvantaged”

Following the conference’s unanimous endorsement of the motion, Ethel Buckley, said: “Conference has sent a strong message the continued imprisonment of this renowned feminist, artist and campaigner is completely unacceptable. Minster Shatter must take action now to set Margaretta free.”

A Night of Music & Spoken Word to celebrate the naming of the Rosie Hackett Bridge

A Night of Music & Spoken Word to Celebrate the Naming of the Rosie Hackett Bridge organised by SIPTU and the IWWU Commemorative Committee READ MORE

86th Academy Awards

Check out this years winners at the 86th Academy Awards which took place on Sunday 2nd March.

The Inquiry

In the autumn of 1913, as the social and political maelstrom of the Lockout raged around them, legendary union leader James Larkin faced his nemesis William Martin Murphy across a conference table in Dublin Castle. It was here, in the seat of British power in Ireland, that the two men passionately articulated their respective visions for the coming Irish state.

[Read more…]

Ronnie Masterson

The death has occurred of Ronnie Masterson (4th April 1926 – February 10th 2014).

Ronnie was a long time member of Irish Equity and a member of the Executive. She trained at the Abbey Theatre and first appeared on stage there in 1944.

At the Abbey, she met and then married actor Ray McAnally (deceased) in 1945. Ronnie is mother to Conor, Aonghus, Máire and Niamh.

Irish Equity would like to express our sincere condolences to her family and friends.

SIPTU Vice-President, Patricia King, who knew Ronnie personally has also expressed her sorrow at the parting of the actress and Equity member.

“I wish to express my deepest sympathy to the children and family of Ronnie Masterson. May she rest in peace,” Patricia King said.

Funeral arrangements:
Reposing at Stafford’s Funeral Home in Portmarnock  from 2 p.m to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 12th February and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, 13th February.
Removal on Thursday 13th February arriving at St. Fintan’s Church, Sutton, at 5.30 p.m.
Funeral Mass on Friday 14th February at 11.00 a.m.