Brian Friel, 1929-2015

Donkey Oaty

Irish Times is reporting that this fine playwright died this morning.

They're quoting Bill Clinton on Friel: "An Irish treasure for the entire world" and it's hard to disagree.

I'll always remember him for the schoolmaster's killer put-down in "Philadelphia, Here I Come!":

"You'll do all right. You're young, strong and of average intelligence."

Farewell Brian - you made studying for the English Leaving Cert enjoyable at times, and that's a hell of a legacy.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/irish-playwright-brian-friel-dies-aged-86-1.2375950

farmchoice

a sad loss, a great writer. as the previous poster said studying Philadelphia here i come for the leaving cert was a pleasure and a beam of light in an otherwise fairly horrible year. i think we all are related to it better then any other part of the English syllabus.

for lads of 17-18 on he cusp of adulthood and striking out in the world it struck a cord, and the portrayal of the friendships was sublime.

UpCork

RIP.

One of our finest playrights.

I remember studying 'Philadephia, Here I Come' for the Leaving Cert and I loved it. Must dig out my Leaving Cert copy of it and revisit it.

blastman

I loved his short story 'A Man's World', it was on the Inter Cert back in the day. RIP, Mr. Friel.

The Backwards Man

A neighbour of me own, and a decent man, never heard a bad word said about him and that's pretty remarkable for around here.

RIP

Happyman42

To have seen Freedom Of The City at a time (late 70's early 80's) when alternative views to the 'official account' of Bloody Sunday had a whiff of sulphur off them is still one of the most exciting things I have seen on a stage, followed closely by Field Day's Translations in the Guildhall in Derry with a young Stephen Rea. Making History too and the sublime and lyrical Faith Healer. So much brilliance in his writing.
A tremendous loss but what a legacy RIP.

Agricola

When I think back nearly 20 years to the stuff I studied in English class, Philadelphia is about the only thing that stands out as something which felt a bit more like entertainment than homework.

sidneykidney

A sad loss to the arts world both home and abroad.

RIP

c_man

My introduction to him was Philadelphia Here I Come in LC, loved his stuff since. R.I.P.

DanielODonnell

I had never heard of him until I saw the dancing of lughnasa film on RTE and he was from the neighbouring county though apparently they study "Making history" in England for GCSE

legrand

Met him once although under somewhat ignominious circumstances (for me) when, in a restaurant he beckoned me over as I walked by his table thinking I was a waiter (me in black trousers/white shirt). He was hugely embarrassed and apologised profusely when when I laughingly pointed out I too was a diner.

Love his body of work. RIP.

steve_r

Sorry to hear this. A great playwright.

Saw the below on twitter earlier

https://twitter.com/garvangrant/status/649883044300595200

biZrb

Philadelphia Here I Come made me realise plays were accessible and a joy to read. Before that all I studied in school was Shakespeare, which I found so hard to understand and difficult to relate to. That was a massive thing for me as I always found English to be a difficult subject at school.

JP Liz V1

RIP

8mv

One of my proudest moments was when I was involved in an amateur production of Dancing at Lughnasa a few years ago and at times you could hear some of the audience sobbing. Such beautiful and powerful language in that play.

Aglomerado

RIP.
I too did Philadelphia Here I Come for my Leaving Cert, and Translations in college.

Great sense of humour.

I still quote S.B. O'Donnell from time to time "Powerful the way time passes..."

TheLastMohican

Saw Dancing at Lughnasa many moons ago in Sadler's Wells. Great play. And great pub alongside called The Harlequin - where you can duck in to for a few brief half-time snifters.

RIP Brian!