Donal O'Kelly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donal O'Kelly
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| Born | 1958 (age 66–67) Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation | playwright, actor |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Notable works | Catalpa Bat The Father, Rabbit The Son Jimmy Joyced! |
Donal O'Kelly is a talented Irish playwright and actor. He was born in 1958 and has created many plays and appeared in several films and TV shows. He is known for his work that often focuses on important topics like human rights.
Early Life and Beginnings
Donal O'Kelly was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1958. Before he became a full-time artist, he worked as a computer programmer. He was part of the Irish Civil Service, which helps run the country. However, he soon decided to follow his passion for theatre. He also became very involved in important social issues.
A Career in Theatre
Donal O'Kelly's first play was called Silicon Sweethearts, which he wrote in 1984. He loved telling stories on stage. In 1993, he helped start a group called Calypso Productions. This group creates plays that talk about human rights. Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person. O'Kelly has always been a strong supporter of these rights. He has also worked with an organization called Afri.
Awards and Recognition
Donal O'Kelly's play Catalpa was very successful. It won a special award called the Scotsman Fringe First Award in 1996. This was at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a big arts festival in Scotland. The play also won the Critics' Prize at the Melbourne International Festival in Australia in 1997. In 1999, he received the Irish American Cultural Institute Butler Literary Award.
In 2007, Donal O'Kelly was chosen to be a member of Aosdána. This is a special group that honors Irish artists. He later left the group in 2011.
In 2014, his radio drama series Francisco won a gold medal. It was named Best Drama Special at the New York Festivals Radio Awards.
Acting on Screen
Besides writing plays, Donal O'Kelly is also a well-known actor. He has appeared in several movies. These include Jimmy's Hall, The Van, and Kings. For his role in Kings, he was even nominated for an IFTA award.
He has also acted in many television shows. You might have seen him in Paths to Freedom, Ballykissangel, or The Clinic.
