Brian Friel

Brian Friel, one of Ireland's most prominent playwrights, was born 9th January 1929, in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland. In addition to his published plays, he has written short stories, screenplays, film, TV and radio adaptations of his plays, and several pieces of non-fiction on the role of theatre and the artist.

Brian's father was a native of Derry and a primary school principal. His mother was from Donegal and Brian spent many holidays here. In 1939 the family moved to Derry. Brian attended Long Tower School, and then attended secondary school at St. Columb's College, Derry. He then went on to attend the Republic of Ireland's national seminary, St. Patrick's College, near Dublin. After which he took a post-graduate teaching course in Belfast. He started teaching in Derry in 1950 and wrote in the meantime. His first radio play "A Sort of Freedom" aired on BBC in 1958. In 1959 his first short story, "The Skelper" appeared in the New Yorker and his first stage play "The Francophile", was performed at the Group Theatre, Belfast. In 1960 he retired from teaching to write full-time.

Brian Friel married Anne Morrison in 1954 and has four daughters and one son. He moved to Donegal in 1969, where he always felt his roots lay. Brian at present lives in the Inishowen countryside.

Brian has many awards and achievements. His plays have premiered and been produced at prestigious venues like the Abbey Theatre, London's West End and Broadway and have been highly successful everywhere. His first major play "Philadelphia, Here I Come!" was the hit of the 1964 Dublin Theatre Festival. In 1972 he was elected as a member of the Irish Academy of Letters. In 1981, "Translations", one of his seminal pieces, was awarded the Ewart-Biggs Peace Prize. After co-founding Field Day, Brian Friel continued his interest in the arts as a member of Aosdana, the national treasure of Irish artists, to which he was elected in 1982. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Literature by the National University of Ireland in 1983, and in 1987 was nominated to the Irish Senate. "Dancing at Lughnasa", probably his most successful play so far, received three Tony Awards in 1992, including Best Play.

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