February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Eileen Murphy
Well, they rang down the curtain for the last time on Gay Byrne’s "Late Late Show" last weekend. Of course, the show will go on with a different host, since it’s too valuable a franchise for RTE to let die. Gaybo’s seat was barely cool when the bosses out in Montrose announced that popular Îrish broadcaster Pat Kenny would take over the throne.
This is good news, since several TV critics have suggested that RTE cancel the "Late Late" now, claiming that no one could fill Byrne’s shiny loafers. Gay himself has no time for such blather.
"The cemeteries are full of supposedly irreplaceable people," he snorted before going on air for the final show.
We’re crossing our fingers that RTE will send us a tape of the last broadcast, as reliable sources have told us that it was a show not to be missed.
Irish President Mary McAleese, just back from a trip to the U.S., told Gay, "You’ve entertained us, you’ve educated us, you’ve exasperated us. What more could anyone ask over 37 years?"
Follow us on social media
Keep up to date with the latest news with The Irish Echo
Madame President also called the "Late Late" "a source of national pride."
Other guests included actress Rosaleen Linehan, Niall Toibin (known to BallyK fans as the crotchety Fr. MacAnally), and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who said that the "Late Late" had been "compulsive viewing" for him ever since he was a boy. We’re sure Gaybo was happy to hear that, though he might have wondered whether he and an taoiseach were a little too close in age for that kind of remark. Maybe Bertie’ll say Uncle Gay changed his nappies next . . .
The highlight of the night was a visit from U2 frontman Bono, who road a Harley Davidson motorcycle onstage, much to the surprise of the gobsmacked host.
Bono then quipped, "You’re the wild one," as he handed the keys over to Gay, explaining that the bike was a gift. Gay, a huge fan of choppers, was shocked and thrilled by the gift, which left him almost at a loss for words.
At the end of the show, Gay thanked the audience, his staff and his family for their support over the years.
When the on-air hugs and kisses were over, the staff and guests were treated to a catered celebration under a tent: plenty of food, full open bar, celebrity guests, the works. Gay stepped up to the fancy bar at the fancy party organized in his honor.
"Beer, wine or perhaps a liqueur, sir," we can imagine the barman saying, impressed to be serving a living legend.
Gay ordered a glass of whisky, his customary after-show drink.
Unfortunately, in an ironic twist, no one had remembered to lay in a drop of whiskey for the guest of honor.
"Er, sorry, sir," we can imagine the barman stammer. "We don’t, er, actually have any whisky here tonight."
Talk about coming back to reality with a thud. Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry . . .
The Iceman cometh (and he’s bringing some friends!)
The theatrical event of the season, for us, has always been the Irish Repertory Theatre’s annual benefit gala. It is, without fail, a night of great stars, great performances and a deliciously giddy, let’s-put-on-a-show enthusiasm that is hard to find in an increasingly cynical world. This year looks to be the best ever, as the Rep presents "How the Irish Saved Civilization," a revue based on Thomas Cahill’s best-selling book.
The benefit takes place on Monday, June 7, starting at 7 p.m. at the Broadhurst Theater, 235 West 44th St., NYC. The evening will be hosted by "Murder She Wrote" star Angela Lansbury and Kevin Spacey, the Tony-nominated star of Eugene O’Neill’s "The Iceman Cometh."
This one-night-only performance will feature Frank McCourt, members of the "Riverdance" company (who might be persuaded to dance a step or two — sure, you never know!), Eric Stoltz, Eileen Ivers, Tate Donovan, Pauline Flanagan, Milo O’Shea, The Prodigals, Terry Donnelly, Donny Golden, Bon Green, Marian Tomas Griffin, Rusty Magee, Kevin McCormick, Paul McCrane, Padraic Moyles, Brian F. O’Byrne, Ciaran O’Reilly, Van Porter, Ciaran Sheehan, Tom Chaill and Kitty Sullivan.
Anyone who’s been to an Irish Rep benefit knows that these are marvelous evenings. Past hosts have included Rosie O’Donnell, Lynn Redgrave and our favorite Jedi master, Liam Neeson. Last year, both John Hume and George Mitchell were in attendance, and there was nary a dry eye in the house after Hume’s rendition of "The Town I Loved So Well."
Tickets for this one night only celebration are $75-$100 for the performance only, or $150 for both the performance and gala dinner afterward at that legendary Broadway supper club, Sardi’s, 234 West 44th St., NYC. There’s an added benefit, too: tickets are up to $75 tax-deductible! What a nice, easy way to help a good cause.
For tickets and information, call (212) 727-2737.
Dubliner Drew drops in
Quick — name the most distinctive voice in Irish music. If you thought of Ronnie Drew, then congratulations! We’re on the same wavelength. If you thought of Bono, hey, close but no cigarillo . . .
Anyway, those of us who’ve rubbed our worry beads raw waiting, waiting and waiting some more for Ronnie to cross the broad Atlantic – with his guitar and maybe an amp or two – can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The gravel-voiced singer will be here for a brief tour with his one-man show, "Ronnie, I Hardly Knew Ya," beginning June 7.
Drew’s show is a mixture of singing, story-telling and recitations structured around the works of James Joyce, Sean O’Casey, Brendan Behan and Patrick Kavanagh. And we’re sure that audiences won’t let him leave without sing many of the songs for which he’s famous, such as "Dublin in the Rare Old Times," "The Oul Triangle" and "Seven Drunken Nights." We’ve already started including a request for "The Monto" in our evening prayers . . .
It’s been many years since Drew has performed in the States, so if you’re a fan, carpe diem, which is Latin for "go get them tickets while you can!" Don’t say we didn’t warn you . . .
Ronnie Drew’s U.S. Tour Schedule
June 7 at 7 p.m.: Dublin Delights, Long Island, N.Y.
Information: (516) 331-4848
June 8 at 7:30 p.m.: Mrs. O’Leary’s, Gaithersburg, Md.
Information: (301) 947-1993
June 9 at 9 p.m.: Rory Dolan’s, Yonkers, N.Y.
Information: (914) 776-2946
June 10 at 8 p.m.: Cryan’s, Metuchen, N.J.
Information: (732) 549-2040
June 11 at 8 p.m.: Temple Bar, Stamford, Conn.
Information: (203) 708-9000
June 12 at 4:30 p.m. and June 13 at 1:30 p.m.:
Irish Cultural Festival, Stonehill College, Stonehill, Mass.
Information: (781) 821-8291
Donegal Danny was here
So, after all these years of passive resistance and lame excuses, we finally went to see Daniel O’Donnell in concert last Friday evening at Town Hall. The mammy was determined to go, and she was equally determined that we would go, too.
"You’ll like him," she said soothingly as we clawed the sidewalk in desperation. "He’s such a nice boy, and he has such a nice voice . . ."
"But maaaaa," we whined, "don’t wanna see Daniel. Wanna see Metallica . . . wanna see dead squirrels . . ."
"There’s a group called Dead Squirrels?" she inquired incredulously.
"No, wanna see real dead squirrels," we moaned. "Anything but Daniel . . ."
"Now, stop whining," she said in those stern Longfordian tones that indicated that no arguments would be brooked. "Let’s go. We might even get him to sign a CD."
Well, we hate to admit it, but we actually had a great time. O’Donnell is a consummate performer (and he’s cute, too!) and though he’s as unlikely to do a Pearl Jam cover as Sr. Mary Beata is to get a tattoo, the songs were a superb mix of Irish ballads and contemporary soft pop.
The real revelation is Daniel’s stage presence. His voice is soft and easy on the ears, his songs range from old favorites "I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" and "Donegal Shore" to frothy crowd-pleasers like The Archies’ "Sugar Sugar." He joked easily with the audience, teasing them gently about whether or not they have their own teeth.
"As long as ye can eat your dinners, I don’t care whose teeth they are!" he quipped. He graciously played lots of requests.
He looked wonderful in a dark blue silk suit, with a striped vest and white tux shirt (no tie). During a band solo, he ran offstage, and we expected him to reappear in, say, a white suit (he’s just that kind of guy). When he bounded back onstage in a pair of tight black leather trousers and a white shirt, unbuttoned at the neck, you could have knocked us over with a very tiny feather.
"My mother hates these pants," he confided to the audience. "After I bought them, she said, ‘That’s the worst £60 you ever spent!’ " The crowd laughed, mostly because £60 wouldn’t even buy a person a peek at those pants in a store.
Anyway, Daniel eventually did change into a pearl gray suit, and did a few numbers with the very talented Mary Duff, who had warmed up the crowd as the opening act. The rousing finale, "How Great Thou Art," brought the crowd to its feet, and Daniel bid us all goodnight, safe home and God bless. He also invited people to come say hello to him in the lobby.
We wanted to go and say hi, since we’d interviewed him by telephone the week before. But the crowd around him was thick, the hour was late, and the mammy wanted to catch a cab before "the world and his brother" were out on the sidewalk.
So thanks, Daniel, for a lovely evening. And OK, Mom . . . you were right.
May 26-June 1, 1999