New & NoteworthyIrish contingent exhibit their Cannes-do spirit!
February 15, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Eileen Murphy
There was general – make that “General” – revelry on the French Riviera last week. The cast of the new John Boorman film “The General” hit the party circuit to promote the film’s premiere at the prestigious Cannes film festival, and judging from reports, a good time was had by all at the premiere party.
Star Brendan Gleeson (“The Treaty,” “Michael Collins”) who plays notorious Irish gangster Martin “The General” Cahill, took the stage and showed off his skill on the fiddle, accompanied by the Irish trad band which had been hired for the night. Not to be outdone, costar Adrian Dunbar (“Hear My Song”) warbled “Me and Bobby McGee.”
Oddly, former “Commitments” costars Angeline Ball and Maria Doyle Kennedy, who play sisters in “The General,” declined to perform at the party – like a couple of choruses of “Chain of Fools” would have hurt. However, Kennedy did wear a delightfully retro tiara (yes, we saw the pictures), so maybe she did add to the entertainment.
Other members of the Irish contingent included Colm Meaney, who stars in another Cannes entry, “Claire Dolan,” and playwright Hugh Leonard, who missed the “General” premiere due to a ticket mixup.
Anjelica Huston and Jim Sheridan were on hand to announce plans for their upcoming collaboration on “The Mammy,” a movie written by comedian Brendan O’Carroll. Huston will direct and star in the film, while Sheridan will tackle the role of producer.
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These Doctors make house calls (sort of)
If you’re suffering from the rockin’ pneumonia or the boogie woogie flu, you’ll want to get yourself to the nearest Saw Doctors concert for a little reelin’ and healin’. The Tuam, Co. Galway, band, who are heading stateside to play all three Guinness Fleadhs in June, will spend some of their off-time on stages around the country. This is their schedule so far:
Date/City