The actor and life long Equity member, Frank Kelly, died on Sunday, 28th February.

Kelly was a veteran of stage and screen for 60 years. Among his most popular roles were on RTÉ’s satirical show Hall’s Pictorial Weekly and as Father Jack on Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted.

He also appeared in Glenroe between 1999 and 2001 and later spent five months on the cast of ITV soap Emmerdale. In 2014 he appeared as the judge in Mrs. Brown’s Boys D’Movie. He was also a regular stage performer in Ireland and abroad.

Kelly was born in 1938 in Blackrock, County Dublin, an area where he continued to live for most of his life. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease late last year.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years Bairbre, 7 children and 17 grandchildren.

All workers in the arts and entertainment industries have the right to do their job without being bullied or belittled by bosses or colleagues. Take our short survey and help us tackle bullying and harassment. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6JDTYCH

Follow us on Facebook

DRAFT REPORT Dignity@work_2015 10 21

Following a public outcry in the wake of the announcement of the Abbey Theatre’s 2016 programme, #WakingTheFeminists held a public meeting on Thursday 12 November 2015 [Read more…]

UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings addressing the UNIMEI 2015 Congress in Lisbon. UNIMEI is the global organisation for trade unions organising in media, entertainment and arts. Fair standards, fair digital bargaining and collective bargaining rights are the order of the day.

Irish Equity congratulates Enda Oates in winning his IFTA last for best male performer in a soap. Enda is an stage, film, and television actor who has received acclaim for his stagework, but is also well known to Irish television audiences as the Reverend George Black in the long-running series Glenroe for RTÉ, and as Barreller Casey in the sitcom Upwardly Mobile as well as for his role in Death of a Superhero, Veronica Guerin and Ordinary Decent Criminal.

Equity recently negotiated an agreement for the cast of the production “1916 The Bloody Irish”. This was a live performance that was recorded in front of a live audience for broadcast on PBS in America. Initially the production company were insisting that the cast, who were a mix of Irish Equity, Equity UK and non-union actors, sign full buyout agreements. The cast were not happy with this and called in Irish Equity to help. We visited the cast on set and have a good and constructive discussion that left everyone with a fuller understanding of their rights. This fantastic cast all took the decision to support the union in fighting their cause and the non-union actors even signed up to Equity to be part of this. Once the fight commenced the cast showed real solidarity in ensuring their agents did not sign contracts until given the all clear from Equity even though the production company threatened to withhold payment from them. They actors stood firm with the union however and the deal was done that will time expire and allow for the payment of royalties so well done all concerned !!