2 October 2015
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
The Cork based Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin TD has expressed his condolences on the passing of the world famous Irish playwright Brian Friel in Donegal today.
Deputy Martin commented, “Brian Friel is truly one of the greatest playwrights our country has ever produced. The deep well of his work caught the global imagination which continues to draw on his mesmerising clarity of thought and sharpness of language. From his home in the quiet fishing village of Greencastle, a humble and generous man captured themes of home, language and identity that resonated with audiences from the hills of Donegal to the bustling streets of Broadway. He was man who placed his work above himself and allowed it the space to speak for itself with the remarkable, deft language he used.
“Today is a truly sad day for Irish cultural life. We have lost an iconic figure and tremendous artistic craftsman. Brian Friel’s plays have been read and loved by generations of Irish people and relished by audiences across the world. His contribution went beyond the arts, having served in the Seanad from 1987-1989. From “Philadelphia Here I Come, “Faithhealer” to “Dancing at Lughnasa” these are some of the greatest plays to be produced on a island renowned for its outstanding contribution to the arts. His great, enduring creation of Ballybeg, the town that encapsulated the rich essence of this country so brilliantly, will remain alive and well in the minds of Irish people and global audiences.
“I want to express my condolences and those of the Fianna Fáil organisation to his wife Anne, 4 daughters and son. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam”.
