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| Meryl Streep and Liam Neeson among those who pay tribute to Brian Friel | Meryl Streep and Liam Neeson among those who pay tribute to Brian Friel |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Hollywood stars have been paying tribute to Irish playwright Brian Friel who has died aged 86. | Hollywood stars have been paying tribute to Irish playwright Brian Friel who has died aged 86. |
| Friel passed away at his home in Greencastle, County Donegal after a long illness. | Friel passed away at his home in Greencastle, County Donegal after a long illness. |
| The County Tyrone born writer won three Tony Awards for Dancing at Lughnasa in 1992. The play was later made into a film starring Meryl Streep. | The County Tyrone born writer won three Tony Awards for Dancing at Lughnasa in 1992. The play was later made into a film starring Meryl Streep. |
| "We've lost a tender dramatist, an insightful humanist and a lovely man," she said. | "We've lost a tender dramatist, an insightful humanist and a lovely man," she said. |
| Obituary: Brian Friel | Obituary: Brian Friel |
| Reflections on a 'literary giant' | Reflections on a 'literary giant' |
| "Friel introduced the people of Donegal to us as if we were all members of his family and community," the three-time Oscar winner told BBC News NI. | "Friel introduced the people of Donegal to us as if we were all members of his family and community," the three-time Oscar winner told BBC News NI. |
| "We couldn't help but recognise the people we loved in our own towns and lives, the people who make us laugh and make us furious." | "We couldn't help but recognise the people we loved in our own towns and lives, the people who make us laugh and make us furious." |
| Actor Liam Neeson, who performed in five of Friel's plays during his early career, told BBC News NI "it was a joy to say his words and to feel secure in the hands of a master craftsman". | Actor Liam Neeson, who performed in five of Friel's plays during his early career, told BBC News NI "it was a joy to say his words and to feel secure in the hands of a master craftsman". |
| "Brian was Ireland's Chekhov," he said. | "Brian was Ireland's Chekhov," he said. |
| "All his plays touched on the parochial and the universal. | "All his plays touched on the parochial and the universal. |
| "Their themes described the complexities of the Irish character with enormous wit, grace and love. | "Their themes described the complexities of the Irish character with enormous wit, grace and love. |
| "I hope he and Heaney are having a 'wee one' together now and sharing a giggle." | "I hope he and Heaney are having a 'wee one' together now and sharing a giggle." |
| Actor John Hurt tweeted: "Ireland has lost a great playwright, acerbic and brilliant wit and a great humanitarian. Vive Brian Friel! With my love." | Actor John Hurt tweeted: "Ireland has lost a great playwright, acerbic and brilliant wit and a great humanitarian. Vive Brian Friel! With my love." |
| 'Immense legacy' | 'Immense legacy' |
| 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". | 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. | "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." | "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." |
| Breakthrough | Breakthrough |
| 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 10 years later when Philadelphia, Here I Come was performed on Broadway. | His major breakthrough came 10 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. | 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. | 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. | Apart from his original writing, Friel was also known for his adaptations of Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. |
| His other achievements include serving as a senator in the 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. | His other achievements include serving as a senator in the 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. |
| The playwright is due to be laid to rest in Glenties, County Donegal, on Sunday. |