Mick Lally facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mick Lally
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| Born |
Michael Lally
10 November 1945 Tourmakeady, County Mayo, Ireland
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| Died | 31 August 2010 (aged 64) Dublin, Ireland
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1974–2010 |
| Spouse(s) |
Peige Ní Chonghaile
(m. 1979) |
| Children | 3 |
Michael Lally (born November 10, 1945 – died August 31, 2010) was a famous Irish actor. He acted on stage, in movies, and on TV. He used to be a teacher but decided to become an actor in the 1970s.
Many people in Ireland knew him best as Miley Byrne in the TV show Glenroe. But Mick Lally also had a long career in theatre. He was in big movies like Alexander and the Oscar-nominated The Secret of Kells. He passed away in 2010 after being sick. Many people said he was one of Ireland's best and most well-known actors.
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Early Life and Education
Mick Lally was born in November 1945. He grew up in a village called Tourmakeady in County Mayo, Ireland. This area is a Gaeltacht, which means Irish is the main language spoken there.
He was the oldest of seven children. Mick went to the local school in Tourmakeady. Then he went to St Mary's College, Galway. After that, he studied history and Irish at University College Galway. While there, he even won a boxing championship! He also acted in student plays.
From 1969 to 1975, Mick taught at Archbishop McHale College in Tuam. But he loved acting more. So, he left teaching to become a full-time actor.
Acting Career
Mick Lally started his acting journey at Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe. This is Ireland's national theatre for the Irish language. He also helped start the Druid Theatre Company. He was nominated for an award for his acting in their play The Dead School.
He also joined the Field Day Theatre Company. He starred in their first show of Brian Friel's play Translations in 1980. Mick first acted at the famous Abbey Theatre in 1977. He performed in many plays there over the years.
In 1982, Mick Lally was in the TV series The Ballroom of Romance. He acted alongside Brenda Fricker. From 1983, he became very famous as Miley Byrne. This was a farmer character in the RTÉ soap opera Glenroe. He had played Miley before in another show called Bracken in 1978. In 1979, he won an award for his role as Miley in Bracken.
Mick Lally also had a hit song! "The By-road to Glenroe" became number one in Ireland in 1990. He also did voice-overs for commercials. One famous one was for Kilmeaden Cheese in the 1990s. He appeared in other TV shows too, like Tales of Kinvarna and Ballykissangel.
In 1994, Mick played Hugh in the movie The Secret of Roan Inish. In 1995, he was Dan Hogan in Circle of Friends. He was also in movies like Poitín and A Man of No Importance. Later, he voiced Brother Aidan in the animated movie The Secret of Kells. This film was nominated for an Oscar! He also appeared in TV ads.
Personal Life
Mick Lally was married to a nurse named Peige Ní Chonghaile. They were married for 30 years before he passed away. They had three children: Saileog, Darach, and Maghnus.
Mick was very good at speaking the Irish language. His children also went to Irish-speaking schools (gaelscoileanna). He acted in many Irish language shows and movies. These included Poitín and the Irish language soap opera Ros na Rún. He also supported certain social causes.
Passing Away
Mick Lally passed away on August 31, 2010. He had been in the hospital for a short time. Doctors said he died from heart failure, which was linked to a lung condition called emphysema. Many people were very sad to hear the news.
Important people shared their sadness. The Irish leader, Taoiseach Brian Cowen, said he was "shocked and saddened." He called Mick "one of the most loved actors of his generation." Mick's TV wife from Glenroe, Mary McEvoy, said they "loved each other."
Mick Lally's funeral was held in Dublin on September 2, 2010. Many people from TV, movies, theatre, and politics came. The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, also sent a letter to express her sympathy.
Selected Film and TV Roles
- The Secret of Kells (2009)
- Ros na Rún (2008)
- Alexander (2004)
- How to Cheat in the Leaving Certificate (1997)
- Circle of Friends (1995)
- The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)
- A Man of No Importance (1994)
- Fools of Fortune (1990)
- The Fantasist (1986)
- Glenroe (1983)
- The Outcasts (1982)
- The Year of the French (1982)
- The Ballroom of Romance (1982)
- Poitín (1978)
- Bracken (1978)
Selected Theatre Roles
- Translations, as Manus (1980)
- The Year of the Hiker (1990)
- The Man from Clare (1992)
- DruidSynge (2005)
- The Matchmaker (2010)
