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Brian Friel: Famed playwright dies aged 86 Brian Friel: Famed playwright dies aged 86
(35 minutes later)
Acclaimed Irish playwright Brian Friel has died aged 86 after a long illness.Acclaimed Irish playwright Brian Friel has died aged 86 after a long illness.
Friel is best known for plays such as Translations, Dancing at Lughnasa and Philadelphia, Here I Come.Friel is best known for plays such as Translations, Dancing at Lughnasa and Philadelphia, Here I Come.
He was born in Killyclogher, County Tyrone in 1929. He worked as a teacher in Londonderry before moving to County Donegal in the 1960s.He was born in Killyclogher, County Tyrone in 1929. He worked as a teacher in Londonderry before moving to County Donegal in the 1960s.
In 1992, Friel won three Tony Awards for Dancing at Lughnasa. The play was later made into a film starring Meryl Streep.In 1992, Friel won three Tony Awards for Dancing at Lughnasa. The play was later made into a film starring Meryl Streep.
Obituary: Brian FrielObituary: Brian Friel
Irish President Michael D Higgins said Friel was "one of the giants of Irish literature, and a great Irishman".Irish President Michael D Higgins said Friel was "one of the giants of Irish literature, and a great Irishman".
"To have had the privilege of knowing Brian Friel as a friend was an immense gift," he said."To have had the privilege of knowing Brian Friel as a friend was an immense gift," he said.
"He was a man of powerful intellect, great courage and generosity. These were talents that he delivered with great humour, grit and compassion."He was a man of powerful intellect, great courage and generosity. These were talents that he delivered with great humour, grit and compassion.
"His legacy to the Irish people is immense.""His legacy to the Irish people is immense."
Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume described Friel as a "genius who lived, breathed and walked amongst us".
"His loss will be felt terribly by his family and his fans. However, we can count ourselves lucky that the treasure of his work will be with us forever.
"He had a unique ability to transform the local to the global and bring the past to the present which enthralled people the world over."
'Universal appeal'
Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Enda Kenny said Friel's writing "will forever form part of the canon of greatness in dramatic writing".Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Enda Kenny said Friel's writing "will forever form part of the canon of greatness in dramatic writing".
"The consummate Irish storyteller, his work spoke to each of us with humour, emotion and authenticity," he said."The consummate Irish storyteller, his work spoke to each of us with humour, emotion and authenticity," he said.
Shiela Pratschke, chairwoman of Ireland's Arts Council, said Friel had earned himself recognition among the world's greatest playwrights.
"The Irish theatre and arts world generally is devastated by this sad, sad loss," she said.
"Brian was an inspiration to Irish playwrights, actors, directors and theatre makers.
'Renowned'
"It is the mark of the man and his achievement as a writer that his work is conjured by use of his surname only.""It is the mark of the man and his achievement as a writer that his work is conjured by use of his surname only."
Irish Arts Minister Heather Humphreys said he was one of the country's "truly great playwrights" and a household name "on the international stage as well". Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness described Friel as "one of our greatest ever playwrights".
"He was renowned on Broadway, where many of his plays ran to great acclaim. Through his writing he brought Ireland, and particularly Donegal, to the world," she said. "Brian was a quiet, unassuming man who made a huge contribution to the arts and his work had universal appeal," he said.
Carál Ní Chuilín, Northern Ireland's culture minister, said Friel "had a rare ability to delight audiences with plays that are both entertaining and thought-provoking".
"Friel belongs to the canon of great Irish writers. His affection for everyday subject matter was matched by his understanding of the human condition," she said.
BreakthroughBreakthrough
Friel was born on either 9 or 10 January 1929, with the precise date never being confirmed.Friel was born on either 9 or 10 January 1929, with the precise date never being confirmed.
He began writing while working as a teacher in Derry. In 1954, A Sort of Freedom - his first play - was broadcast by the BBC.He began writing while working as a teacher in Derry. In 1954, A Sort of Freedom - his first play - was broadcast by the BBC.
In the same year, he married Anne Morrison and the couple had five children: Mary, Paddy, Judy, Sally and David.In the same year, he married Anne Morrison and the couple had five children: Mary, Paddy, Judy, Sally and David.
His major breakthrough came ten years later when Philadelphia, Here I Come was performed on Broadway.His major breakthrough came ten years later when Philadelphia, Here I Come was performed on Broadway.
In 1980, he co-founded the Field Day Theatre Company with actor Stephen Rea - their work became known as an artistic response to the violence and politics that divided Northern Ireland at that time.In 1980, he co-founded the Field Day Theatre Company with actor Stephen Rea - their work became known as an artistic response to the violence and politics that divided Northern Ireland at that time.
Previously, Rea had described the writer as being "completely in tune with Irish audiences".Previously, Rea had described the writer as being "completely in tune with Irish audiences".
"There is something innate in the plays where he speaks very directly to an Irish audience and we found the audience for him.""There is something innate in the plays where he speaks very directly to an Irish audience and we found the audience for him."
Apart from his original writing, Friel was also known for his adaptations of Russian playwright Anton Chekhov and has been described as the 'Irish Chekhov'.
His other achievements include serving as a senator in the Seanad (upper house of the Irish parliament) between 1987 and 1989 and being elected to Aosdana, the Irish association to honour those who have made an outstanding contribution to the arts, in 1982.