Research Guru / Moderator
Posted:
Aug 31, 2010, 9:14 AM
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"The Secret of Kells" actor Mick Lally dead at 64
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Famed Irish actor Mick Lally, the voice of Brother Aidan in last year's Brendan And The Secret Of Kells, died peacefully Tuesday morning after a short hospital stay. He was 64.
The Secret of Kells, as the movie was also known, was nominated for this year's Oscar for best animated film.
Born in November 1945 in Tourmakeady, County Mayo, became well-known in Ireland for his work on the TV series Bracken on RTÉ -- Ireland's national netwlrk -- and later as Miley in Glenroe. As well, he starred on the BBC series Ballykissangel, and in the award-winning Ballroom of Romance.
He also starred in such Hollywood projects as Alexander, directed by Oliver Stone.
A fluent Irish-speaker and an advocate of the language, Lally appeared in Irish-language films.
Lally started his career as a teacher. While with the Field Day Theatre Company in 1980, he found a part in the premiere of Brian Friel's play Translations.
He, Gary Hynes and Marie Mullen were founding members of the Druid Theatre Company, a close collaborator with many Irish playwrights.
Brian Cowen, Ireland's Taoiseach (head of government), has led the tributes, said that he was "shocked and saddened" by Lally's death.
"He was one of the most loved actors of his generation and will be dearly missed by the public and his colleagues in theatre and television. Versatile in both the Irish and English languages, his genius at capturing and portraying the essence of the characters he played brought him wide popular and critical acclaim," Cowen said.
Irish Minister for Culture Mary Hanafin cited Lally's huge contribution to the country's theatre. "Whether he was voicing Keane, Synge or indeed Burrows, his was a distinctive, inimitable contribution to our stage and screen craft," she said.
While on TV, the stage and radio, Lally made several groundbreaking contributions to Irish theatre, said Michael D. Higgins, former Minister for Arts, Culture & Gaeltacht.
'He was a consistent supporter of causes where rights were at stake, a native Irish speaker and he was at the forefront of development of the Irish language in an open and generous way. A supporter of socialist causes, he had courage and consistency in his idealism," Higgins said.
Pat Moylan, chair of Ireland's Arts Council, called Lally's death "a sad and shocking loss."
"While Mick will always be best known and fondly remembered as Miley from Glenroe, the theatre community will also be mourning the loss of a talented and dedicated professional who worked in all the major theatres in the country," Moylan said. "He was a talented actor and a gentleman, and his loss will be felt by those both outside and within the wider arts community."
Mick Lally is survived by his wife, the former Peggy Connelly, and their children Saileog, Darach and Maghnus.
[Via RTÉ -- http://www.rte.ie/...010/0831/lallym.html]
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