Brian Friel

The best known Irish playwright of his generation, Brian Friel, died on Friday (2nd October) aged 86. His first major play, Philadelphia, Here I Come!, was the hit of the 1964 Dublin Theatre Festival, and Dancing at Lughnasa in 1992 won three Tony Awards.

He was also an accomplished short-story writer and a founder of Field Day Theatre Company. In all Friel wrote 24 published plays, two short-story collections and eight published adaptations or versions, most notably from Ibsen, Chekov and Turgenev.

His most controversial play, Translations, was first staged in 1980 is about the mapping of Ireland by the Ordnance Survey in the 1830s. It proved to be a landmark in the debates about cultural identity and historical revisionism that were a feature of Irish intellectual life in the 1970s and 1980s.

Friel was born near Omagh, Co Tyrone, in January 1929. Ten years later he moved with his family to Derry. There he was educated at St Columb’s College, following which he spent two years as a seminarian at St Patrick’s College in Maynooth. Trained as a teacher at St Joseph’s College, Belfast, he began teaching in 1950.

In 2001 he presented the archive of his work to the National Library of Ireland. Elected in 1982 to membership of Aosdána he was elected a Saoi in 2006. He was Donegal Person of the Year in 2010.

His wife, Anne Morrison, their three daughters and their son survive him.

European Conference in Dublin on Collective Bargaining for Atypical Workers

patriciakingcollbarg
ICTU General Secretary Patricia King discussing the Competition Authority ban on collective bargaining for certain workers at a European Conference in Dublin on Collective Bargaining for atypical workers.

Second World Live Performance Conference held in Liberty Hall

Second World Live Performance Conference held in Liberty Hall

 

The International Federation of Actors (FIA) held a very successful four-day international conference on live performance in Liberty Hall, Dublin, from 4th to 6th June.

[Read more…]

Irish Equity Executive at the Labour Court

EquityBannerJimLarkin
Members of the Irish Equity Executive at the Labour Court, fighting the case for royalties for actors (July 2015).

Diarmuid Mac An Adhastair

Ros na Rún actor Diarmuid Mac An Adhastair has died at the age of 71, Diarmuid was a member of Irish Equity.

He played Séamus Mhicil Tom on screen since the first episode of the Irish-language soap opera in 1992.

He passed away in hospital in Galway on Sunday (12th July) following a short illness.

Diarmuid is survived by his wife Máirín and his two sons Caomhán and Diarmuid, and daughter Gráinne.

The cast and crew of Ros na Rún have paid tribute Diarmuid saying it was to great honour and pleasure to work with him.

Irish Equity would like to extend their deepest sympathies to the Diarmuids family.

The Stage on the FIA conference

Read featured articles from The Stage Magazine, June 2015 on the FIA Conference in Dublin Read now

Irish Equity extends condolences to the Philips family

Irish Equity would like to extend their deepest sympathies to Janet Philips and her family at the tragic and sudden loss of their beautiful daughter Georgia.

Ireland/UK Action Group

Read the notes from the latest Ireland UK Action Group meeting that took place in Liberty hall on 3rd June

FIA delegates at Smock Alley Theatre

smockallley

FIA delegates enjoying dinner in the historic Smock Alley Theatre Dublin, on Thursday 4th June.

FIA Live Performance Conference

FIAConferenceBANNER

For the second time in its history the International Federation of Actor (FIA) and its worldwide members gather for a 4-day international conference on live performance.

Hosted by FIA member unions Irish Equity and Equity Northern Ireland,  – the event will gather some 200 performers, union and industry representatives from around the world with the aim of discussing challenges, trends and best practices in the live performance sector. From June 4th to June 6th 2015 in the city of Dublin, Ireland, almost 50 speakers from different backgrounds and countries will take the floor to uphold the rights of performers and their role in society.

Prior to the event, FIA carried out a wide survey among its members with a view to best capturing the variety of national situations regarding the live performance sector and published a status report revealing the challenges, constant evolutions, but also the tremendous vitality the sector is witnessing.

Ferne Downey, FIA President, commented:
“The live performance sector remains at the heart of the entertainment industry. Despite the constant growth of the audiovisual sector, live performance continues to be the main source of employment for performers. Discussing current trends and new challenges forartists working in live performance is definitely a priority.”

The Federation and the unions hosting the event – Irish Equity and Equity Northern Ireland – are honoured by the presence of two distinguished guests at the conference opening session: the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure,Carál Ní Chuilín on Wednesday 4 June and welcome all participants under a single motto: Performing live, acting together.

View the FIA conference agenda

View the event website