Latest news with #McDonagh
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
As his play opens at the Gate, how summers in the west of Ireland inspired the enigmatic Martin McDonagh
Despite his global profile, the playwright and filmmaker remains full of ambiguity Sometimes, it seems as if the entire world is obsessed with Martin McDonagh's identity. There are the usual questions. Is McDonagh an Irishman or an Englishman? Is he a playwright or a filmmaker? Where do McDonagh's stories come from, and are they really worth making a fuss over? It depends on who you ask. Born in Elephant and Castle and raised in Camberwell, South London, McDonagh (55) grew up with two Irish parents. His father was a construction worker from Galway and his mother was a cleaner from Sligo. They moved to the UK in the 1960s, looking for work, and the family – mam, dad, and their two boys, John and Martin – would holiday every summer in the west of Ireland.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
The Pillowman review: Martin McDonagh's dark tale gives plenty to ponder
The Pillowman, Gate Theatre, Dublin, ★★★☆☆ It's been a sunny time in Dublin, but things have taken a dark turn at the Gate Theatre in the shape of this Martin McDonagh revival. Audiences used to McDonagh's usual mix of stage-Irish sendup and black comedy will recognise the outrageous irreverence, certainly, but here, the world is more Kafkasque than sub-Synge. Not a Gothic west of Ireland, then, but a totalitarian, vaguely Eastern European police state, even if the accents remain mostly Northern Irish. And if you want thigh-slappers about infanticide, this is the place to be this summer. It all unspools from an interrogation room, in which we find Katurian Katurian (Fra Fee, who brings charisma to a role that can feel like the author's mouthpiece). He's a writer of tales of child murder and maiming, and some of those bearing a striking similarity to some recent real-life child killings. His damaged, intellectually challenged brother, Michael, (called 'retarded' here, of course, in McDonagh's usual non-PC way) can be occasionally heard screaming in another room as he's being tortured. Or is he? A couple of twists and turns reunite Katurian with Michael, played with a blithe innocence by Ryan Dylan, who, it seems may indeed have taken the stories a tad too literally. Julian Moore-Cook, Fra Fee and Aidan McArdle in The Pillowman. Picture: Ros Kavanagh The play is always engrossing, due in large part to the compendium of grimmer-than-Grimm fairy tales throughout. Some of these are mimed out stylishly in Sinead McKenna's design, thanks to a raised stage-within-stage. Lit up, it fills with silent adults and the child victims of their ghastly intent. Director Lyndsey Turner keeps the multiple narratives under tight control, but is not too interested in emphasising the plot's main McGuffin: a race against time to save a child who may or may not be alive. Adam McArdle and Julian Moore-Cook do well as the two cops, Tupolski and Ariel. Ultimately, The Pillowman is a little too self-aggrandising about the writer and his art, and its totalitarian world feels too piecemeal and derivative to truly startle and terrify. But there's a lot more to the play than just that. It gives much to mull about stories, narratives, who controls them, who gets to write them, and why they come to be written in the first place. Plenty to ponder, too, about reactionary politics, censorship and the policing of art: things which hardly need a bright, flashing arrow to point towards the contemporary resonances. Until September 7
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Road bowling: Armagh footballer Ethan Rafferty wins historic All-Ireland senior title
Ethan Rafferty created his own page in the annals of legendary sporting achievements when he beat Arthur McDonagh in Sunday's All-Ireland bowling final at Castletownkenneigh. The Armagh intercounty football goalkeeper, became the first bowler to win All-Ireland intermediate and senior titles in successive years. Both embellished by some extraordinary bowling. He also completed an Ulster four-in-a-row for the Hughie Traynor Cup. The first two wins in the sequence were by his first-cousin, Thomas Mackle, the next by his brother Colm. The score hardly went to script, but managed to create a unique narrative of its own. Even Rafferty's strongest advocates would have predicted a start-to-finish lead. Who would have predicted that Rafferty would get one of the longest first shots on record and that he would get an almost equally extraordinary bowl to Forshins' cross two years in succession? McDonagh opened with a fast bowl, but it turned in at the blue house. Rafferty responded with a sensational bowl that raced all the way to the railing. Huge congratulations to Ethan Rafferty who is the All Ireland Senior Road Bowls Champion. An incredible achievement, well done Ethan! Comhghairdeas!🏆👏🏻 — GrangeGFC (@GrangeGFC) July 13, 2025 In a single act, he had opened up a huge lead. McDonagh beat that by just 50m with his second bowl. Before we could settle our thoughts, Rafferty sent his second bowl into the right, handing what looked the perfect opening to McDonagh. McDonagh got an even shorter one in reply, driving his one left. In the days and weeks ahead, this is the 'what-if' moment that will haunt McDonagh. Rafferty gained close to a bowl of odds after three big shots past the round tower cross. He then played one of the biggest shots of the day, up the rise towards Pyne's. McDonagh beat it by 40m. Rafferty got another good bowl past Pyne's. In response, McDonagh lofted beautifully and cannoned his bowl off the wall to keep the lead well under a bowl. Conor Geaney of Kerry has his shot saved by Armagh goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty. Pic: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile Rafferty finally raised the bowl in the shots into the netting. He increased his lead up to Fehilly's lane. McDonagh narrowly missed Forshins' cross next. Rafferty played an absolutely perfect bowl that went all the way to the cross and he was now virtually two bowls clear. From what looked a totally lost situation, McDonagh put in huge finish, drawing the very best out of Rafferty. McDonagh lofted the cross, then played a huge bowl onto the straight, followed by a monster bowl towards the line. Any slip and Rafferty would be in trouble. Tight days in Clones and Croke Park may have helped him to stay grounded in the face of that assault. Not only that, but, he produced a scintillating last shot to keep his lead over a bowl.
Sunday World
5 days ago
- Sunday World
Extra jail time for lag caught with two mobile phones in Cloverhill prison
Shane McDonagh (19) handed over the phones when he was stopped for a search in Dublin's Cloverhill prison, a court heard. An aerial view of Cloverhill Prison in Cherry Orchard, Dublin. Photo: Stock image A prisoner caught with two mobile phones on him while serving a sentence has been given a month's extra jail time. Shane McDonagh (19) handed over the phones when he was stopped for a search in Dublin's Cloverhill prison, a court heard. Judge David McHugh made the sentence consecutive to a four-year jail term he is already serving. McDonagh, with an address at St Grellan's Terrace, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of phones without the governor's permission. The charge is under Section 36 of the Prisons Act. Read more Supergrass witness Jonathan Dowdall's former home is sold Blanchardstown District Court heard the incident happened on June 6 last year. When told he would be searched by prison officers, he handed over the two phones and a charger Judge McHugh asked the prosecuting garda how McDonagh was caught with two phones on the same day. She replied that the accused was stopped at a security machine at reception, and when told he would be searched by prison officers, he handed over the two phones and a charger. McDonagh was serving a four-year sentence with a release date in 2027. The accused had already been punished in prison, where he had spent 40 days with no evening recreation, no phone calls and no shop, his solicitor Simon Fleming said. 'He came here today to face the punishment of the court,' he added, asking the judge for leniency.
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Emer O'Kelly on The Pillowman: Wickedly funny take on McDonagh is pitch perfect
Theatre review Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman dates from 2003, and had its Irish premiere in a Lyric/Decadent co-production in 2015. And despite dating from the period when McDonagh didn't seem to know the difference between being an enfant terrible and a smart-ass, declaring despite considerable success that he disliked theatre and never went, his play is terrific. Register for free to read this story Register and create a profile to get access to our free stories. You'll also unlock more free stories each week.
