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New & Noteworthy: Bachelor of Hearts

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Eileen Murphy

We must confess to squealing like a schoolgirl when we heard that handsome New York bachelor Patrick Connolly had won the sash at the Mullingar Guinness International Bachelor Festival in Ireland. We were excited for a few reasons: he was the first New York winner in many years; he was the first-ever American-born winner, and last, but not least, we had a hand in choosing him. (Yeah, like that was tough!)

As a judge at the New York finals last November, we’d been impressed by Connolly’s charm, wit and talent on the accordion. Add to that his impressive height (a towering 6-foot-7), his ready smile, his sincere interest in Project Children, his close relationship with his family, his penchant for travel and his friendly demeanor — really, the guy was just downright irresistible.

His proud parents, Bridget and Matty Connolly, and his 84-year-old grandmother, Annie Varley, were on hand to watch their guy compete with contestants from Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Scotland and France. According to newspaper accounts, Patrick was charming during his interviews and quite a sensation on the accordion — a talent we suspect he inherited from his father, who was the leader of the Majestic Showband back in the good old days. Also bursting with pride were siblings Brian, an NYPD sergeant, Matthew, a professional baseball pitcher, and Deirdre, a dancer.

Connolly’s involvement in the contest began as a lark. The New York Bachelor contest, organized by the energetic Irene O’Donnell to benefit Project Children, was looking for entrants. The owners of the Village Green (now, appropriately, The Matchmaker Pub) where Connolly worked as a bartender, asked him to enter. He agreed to enter for the fun of it, and to support Project Children.

Though we haven’t spoken to Connolly yet — he’s still in Ireland — we’re told by his aunt, Mary Connolly, that Mr. International Bachelor of the Year doesn’t really want the attention to focus on him.

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“He told me, ‘I just want everyone to know about the wonderful work of Project Children,’ ” his aunt said. “The work that Denis and Miriam Mulcahy do, bringing those kids to America — that’s the most important thing.”

The beaming aunt added, “We’re very, very proud of him. He’s such a lovely guy.”

“Full Monty” star to stir “Ashes”?

He’s played an unemployed steelworker-turned-stripper in “The Full Monty,” and a psychotic criminal in “Trainspotting.” Now Scottish actor Robert Carlyle is thisclose to playing Malachy McCourt Sr. in the film version of Frank McCourt’s bestseller, “Angela’s Ashes.”

Though early reports had named Liam Neeson as the actor most likely to fill McCourt’s wandering shoes, we hear that the actor and producers were unable to negotiate an agreement.

Assuming all goes well, Carlyle will join English actress Emily Watson as the screen parents of the McCourt brood. Director Alan Parker, who also helmed “The Commitments,” has been holding auditions for the pivotal role of the young Frank as well. Filming will begin in Ireland in September.

“Pvt. Ryan” actor in Bono’s movie?

No, we weren’t kidding months ago when we told you that U2 frontman Bono had written a movie. And we weren’t kidding when we told you that someone was planning on producing this movie. And we weren’t kidding when we told you that Bono would play the lead dressed in a gorilla suit.

Well, actually — we were kidding about that last one. But the rest is true and has come to pass. Thank goodness.

We hear that Bono’s screenplay, “Million Dollar Hotel,” will begin filming in Los Angeles next January. The $8 million movie will star Jeremy Davies — who has a featured role in Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” — and pouty actress/model Milla Jovovich. German auteur Wim Wenders, best known for the masterpiece “Wings of Desire,” will direct.

The plot of the movie centers on the death of a billionaire’s son in a skid row hotel, and the federal agent who disrupts the lives of hotel residents during his investigation. Bono was inspired to write the story 10 years ago, during the filming of the U2 video “Where the Streets Have No Name.” The video was shot outside on a Los Angeles rooftop, across the street from the real Million Dollar Hotel. (Thanks, Pop-Up Video!)

U2 has worked with Wenders before. They contributed the title song to his movie “Until the End of the World,” and he directed the gorgeous video for the equally gorgeous song “Stay (Faraway, So Close).”

A “Kiss” goodbye

We’re breathing a wistful sigh as Liam Neeson’s latest Broadway stint draws to a close. The actor, whose star presence and riveting performance has transformed the not-very-good David Hare play “The Judas Kiss,” and made it a must-see, will end his three-month run on Sunday, Aug. 2. If you haven’t seen it yet, beg, borrow or steal (er, don’t steal) a ticket and go — Liam’s portrayal of Oscar Wilde is truly wonderful.

Mrs. Neeson, better known as actress Natasha Richardson, also ends her Broadway run on Sunday, and then the couple’s off to the country with sons Miche_l and Daniel. After a well-deserved vacation, the couple plans to star in a movie together — their first joint project since “Nell.” This time, Neeson will break out of his customary “hero” role to play a wife-killing mental patient. Richardson will play the adulterous wife of a doctor in the mental institution. Sounds exciting. But we’ll miss knowing where Liam is every evening between 8 and 11 p.m. Sigh.

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