The Life And Acting Career Of Mick Lally (1945-2010)

Arts and Entertainment - Film TV Print & Radio

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 12:22

Written by Denise Lyons

Tributes have been paid today to Irish television, film and stage actor Mick Lally who has died aged 64.

The native of Tourmakeady, County Mayo passed away peacefully in hospital this morning.

His Glenroe co-star Mary McEvoy said McEvoy  paid tribute her friend and co-star. "Mick and I loved each other and we got on really well. The actress said that the fellow actos could go long periods not seeing each other, but she was still finding it hard to accept that Lally has passed away.

Taoseach Brain Cowen commented today: "I was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Mick Lally. 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.”

Mary Upton TD, Labour Party Spokesperson on Arts, Sports and Tourism said: “I wish to express my sincere condolences on the death of Mick Lally. Our thoughts are with his wife Peggy and their children...His friends and colleagues in the acting profession will be greatly saddened by the loss of a true professional who was also a distinguished ambassador for the Irish language."

The fluent Irish speaker’s most recent appearance on Irish TV screens was a stint in  the TG4 soap Ros na Rún.  He also provided the voice of Brother Aidan in the animated Oscar-winning film The Secret of Kells

Lally was educated, as a boarder, at St. Mary's College, Galway. He began a career as a teacher, but gave it up for the stage. He starred in the premiere of Brian Friel's play Translations in 1980 in Derry, while he was a member of the Field Day Theatre Company, founded by Brian Friel and Stephen Rea.

Lally was also one of the founding members of the Druid Theatre Company. He played the role of Miley Byrne in the RTÉ soap Glenroe, reprising the character that he played earlier in the Bracken T.V. series in 1978. Lally also enjoyed some musical success when The By-road to Glenroe went to the top of the Irish charts in 1990. He has also done voice-over work on Irish television.

In March 2010, Lally reunited his acting partnership with Glenroe co-star Mary McEvoy by appearing together in John B.Keane's 'The Matchmaker' at Dublin's Tivoli Theatre.Click here to listen to an interview by Miriam O'Callaghan with the two actors in March 2010.

Speaking today, Miriam O’Callaghan said: “It's so shocking and sad to hear about the death of Mick Lally.  I had the privilege of interviewing him recently on radio…a beautiful man in every way. RIP”.

The Irish Film Board said it was "saddened by the news that the very talented Mick Lally who starred in many Irish films had passed away".

Michael D Higgins TD, President of the Labour Party and former Minister for Arts, Culture & Gaeltacht commented: "Mick, a founder member of Druid Theatre made a set of ground breaking contributions to Irish theatre on stage, television and radio. 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."

"Aisteoir de’n scoth. Fear lámhach ionraiciúil. Chara dílis. I ngach é de’s saoil is laoch atá caillte", added the Deputy.

Click here to watch entertainment.ie's interview with Mick Lally about his role in The Secret Of Kells.

Mick Lally performing a song from Glenroe. The By-Road to Glenroe was released as a single in Ireland in 1990.

Mick Lally - An acting life in pictures

Filmography

* The Secret of Kells (2009)
* Middletown (2006)
* Alexander (2004)
* The Halo Effect (2004)
* How to Cheat in the Leaving Certificate (1997)
* Circle of Friends (1995)
* Scarlett (1994)
* The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)
* A Man of No Importance (1994)
* Misteach Baile Ath Cliath (1994)
* Horse (1993)
* Fools of Fortune (1990)
* That's All Right (1989)
* Upon My Word (1989)
* The Fantasist (1986)
* Glenroe (1983)
* The Outcasts (1982)
* The Year of the French (1982)
* The Ballroom of Romance (1982)
* Our Boys (1981)
* Strumpet City (1980)
* Poitín (1979)
* Bracken (1978)