Cumann Thír Chonaill - Baile Átha Cliath

Donegal Association - Dublin

Donegal Association Dublin - Person of The Year

Donegal Person of The Year 2011 Announced

 

A big congratulations to Anne Marie Ward from Portnablagh and Hugh Greene from New Zealand on receiving the honour of being Joint Donegal Persons of the year 2011.

 

 

 

 

Donegal Person of the Year 2010

Cumann Thír Chonaill, Baile Átha Cliath is delighted to announce that Brian Friel from Greencastle in County Donegal is the Donegal Person of the Year for 2010. As an author, playwright and dramatist Brian Friel is widely recognized as one of the greatest contemporary dramatists in the English language.

Brian Friel was born in Tyrone in 1929, his mother Mary McLoone was from Glenties, and his father Patrick, was from Derry. In 1939 his family moved to Derry where he attended St Columba's College in Derry, he received his B. A. from St. Pat's College, Maynooth (1948), and qualified as a teacher at St.Joseph's Training College in Belfast, 1950. In 1960 after 10 years as a teacher he left to pursue a full time writing career. He married Anne Morrison in 1954 and in 1966 moved his young family to Inishowen, finally settling in Greencastle.

His first big success came in 1964 with 'Philadelphia, Here I Come’. Critically acclaimed, it opened the doors of the theatre world to Brian Friel and to Ballybeg (the fictional Donegal town based on Glenties, the setting for most of his plays). It is seen as a turning point for Irish drama and is one of the most important plays of the 1960’s.

Brian Friel went on to write many more original plays, including 'Lovers' (1967), 'Aristocrats' (1979), 'Faith Healer' (1979), 'Translations' (1981), 'Dancing at Lughnasa' (1990), and 'Molly Sweeney' (1994). Dancing at Lughnasa (1990) is probably his most successful play; winning three Tony Awards in 1992, including Best Play. It was made into a film in 1998 starring Meryl Streep and scripted by Donegal playwright Frank Mc Guinness.

Brian was appointed to the Irish Seanad in 1987, and in January 2006 he was presented with a gold Torc by President Mary McAleese in recognition of his election as a Saoi by the members of Aosdána for singular and sustained distinction in the arts.

Brian Friel has made an immeasurable contribution to cultural identity. We can easily identify the dramatic, rugged landscapes and characters of ‘Ballybeg’ and perhaps it is poignant with the recent re-emergence of emigration to consider that wherever we go in the world that Donegal will always be found between the covers of a Brian Friel play.

Congratulations to Brian Friel, Donegal Person of the Year 2010

     

SO GUYS DONT FORGET TO NOMINATE FOR 2012

 

THE DONEGAL PERSON OF THE YEAR HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED AS IS EVIDENCED IN THE ARTICLES LISTED BELOW THAT APPEARED IN THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA:

http://donegalnow.com/sp/article_manager/detail/two_honoured_with_donegal_person_of_the_year_2011

http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal_persons_of_the_year_named_1_3430883

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/great-honour-might-well-finish-me-off-jokes-imposter-friel-2568378.html

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/theatre-arts/northern-ireland-playwright-brian-friel-named-donegal-person-of-the-year-15105496.html

http://www.craicon.com/moville/1/brian-friels-donegal-pers.shtml

http://www.movilleinishowen.com/news/jan_june2011/jan_donegal_person_of_the_year_playwright_brian_friel.html

http://www.inishowennews.com/011BrianFriel024.htm

http://www.letterkennypost.com/2011/01/20/friel-is-donegal-person-of-the-year/

http://www.donegaldaily.com/2011/01/19/brian-friel-to-be-named-donegal-person-of-the-year/

http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/local/mair_233_ad_tipped_for_donegal_person_of_the_year_award_1_2001613

http://www.inishowennews.com/06ALTAN0263.HTM

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/music-is-a-great-healer-2090907.html


http://www.mairead.ie/blog/mairead-named-donegal-person-of-the-year/

 

List of Donegal Persons of the Year

2011 Hugh Greene & Ann Marie Ward

2010 Brian Friel
2009 Mairéad Ni Mhaonaigh
2008 Dr Joe Mulholland
2007 John Carr
2006 Margo O'Donnell
2005 Michael O'Donnell
2004 Fr Michael Sweeney
2003 Jim McGettigan
2002 Brid Rogers
2001 Patsy McGonagle
2000 Sir Gerry Robinson
1999 Joe Murrin
1998 Paddy Harte
1997 Sean McGinley
1996 Hugh Gallagher
1995 Sean McEniff
1994 Sean O hEochaidh
1993 Charlie Bennett
1992 Brian McEniff
1991 Thomas Mac Fhionnghaile       
1990 Packie Bonnar
1989 Daniel O'Donnell
1988 Fergus Cleary
1987 Eamonn Doherty
1986 Danny McDaid
1985 Peter McLean
1984 Cannon Tommy Doherty
1983 Willie Joe Cunningham
1982 Aine Ni Ghiolla Bhride   
1981 Donal K O'Boyle
1980 Dermot Walsh
1979 Larry Smith
1978 Fr. James McDyer

 

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