Hot Press is saddened to hear of the death of the great Irish playwright, Brian Friel. Born in 1929 in Derry, Friel was widely regarded as one of the most important Irish playwrights of the 20th Century, standing alongside William Butler Yeats, Sean O’Casey, Samuel Beckett, Brendan Behan, Tom Murphy, Frank McGuinness and Martin McDonagh at the apex of theatrical achievement.
Friel, who was rated by many as one of the finest living English language playwrights, was a founder of the legendary Derry-based Field Day Theatre Company. Among his most successful works were Philadelphia Here I Come (1964), Translations (1980) and Dancing at Lughnasa (1990). Both Phliadelphia Here I Come and Dancing At Lughnasa were turned into films (the latter starring Meryl Streep, directed by Pat O’Connor and with music by Bill Whelan), while Neil Jordan wrote a screenplay based on Translations, but it was never produced.
The Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD, has issued a statement, commenting on the passing of Friel.
“Ireland today has lost one of our great treasures,” the Minister said. "The passing of Brian Friel casts a sadness over this island. As a nation, we mourn his passing. This is a deeply sad time for his family and friends who I know will miss him tremendously.
"Like so many people in Ireland and around the world, I have long been an admirer of Brian Friel’s work. His world-renowned productions such as Philadelphia Here I Come, Translations and Dancing at Lughnasa have left a profound influence on me as they have on many.
"His works have woven through the tapestry of our lives. His fascination with the ‘big house’ phenomenon in a transitioning Ireland made him comparable with the great Anton Chekhov. His more recent interpretations of Chekhov’s work broke new ground and widened the dramatic experience of Irish theatre-goers.
"Brian Friel’s writings and the beauty of his storytelling will be sorely missed, but will last as a testament to his brilliance throughout the ages."
"Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann,” the Minister concluded.