Abbey Portraits

Portrait of a Man: 1. Margaret  Gildea and Anne Gildea; 2. Rosanna Manouchehri; 3. Carol  Cuningham and Hannah Cunningham. (Pix. BME)

Two new portraits at the Abbey Theatre, Tom MacIntyre by artist Colin Davidson and Sebastian Barry by artist Mick O'Dea, are the latest in an historic collection that has grown with the theatre over a hundred years and form part of a continuum that marries art with theatre.  The collection features portraits of many famous names associated with the Abbey Theatre including W.B. Yeats, Annie Horniman, Lady Gregory, F.J. McCormick, Sara Allgood, Brian Friel and Tom Murphy. 

Major Barbara

On stage: 1. Senator Fiach Mac Conghail with his mother Maire; 2. Aideen Howard; 3. Katie Holmes and Michael Colgan. (Pix. BME)

The opening night of Major Barbara by Bernard Shaw took place at at the Abbey Theatre this week.  Actor Paul McGann of Doctor Who and Withnail and I fame made his Abbey debut as millionaire arms-manufacturer Andrew Undershaft in this exciting new production which runs until Saturday 21 September. 

The Lion King

Circle of Life: 1. Siobhan O Connor; 2. Aoibhinn Garrihy; 3. Ray Foley and wife Kate Carolan. (Pix. BME)

A host of well known faces graced the red carpet for the spectacular premiere of the The Lion King. The official opening night was also attended by Sir Tim Rice, the show's Co/Lyricist.

The acclaimed stage adaption of  Disneys 1994 animated film was first seen on Broadway in 1997 and has been seen by 70 million people worldwide to date.

It is the first time Julie Traymor's internationally celebrated production with an international cast of 52 performers from 17 different countries has performed in Ireland.  The Lion King will play for a limited season in Ireland until 22 June.

Also in town this week was William Devine of Quintessentially.  Originally from Geneva, he is now based in Warsaw where he recently established the Quintessentially concierge business in Poland, through his company Devine Intervention (along with business partner Emmanuel de Croy - Solre who runs Geneva based wealth management firm Jawer SA).  

Things are not going so well for Devine however and we hear that angry creditors are circling and a number of his top management have already departed acrimoniously, including the MD and head of PR.  Law suits have followed and indeed will join the queue of people already suing the hapless Devine.

History is certainly repeating itself. In 2007 Devine was accused of mismanagement and misappropriating funds after the collapse into bankruptcy of French jewellery firm Poiray, just 8 months after he and a business partner acquired it with a view to rescue.  

Antonello del Balzo, the former director of the Bulgari boutique in Geneva, invested CHF 1.8 million into the business but alleged that the money was used to prop up another Devine company and pay huge salaries.  In any event he lost the lot and brought a case against Devine.

Followers of luxury industry will recall that William Devine was subsequently CEO of top watch company Bedat & Co., part of the Gucci Group. His arrival there was much heralded but less than 2 years after joining the firm he left under a cloud.  Plenty of rumours abound, including one of impropriety, but whatever the reasons Devine has never worked for a watch company since.  Persona non grata perhaps?

Never one to be undeterred William Devine is certainly not giving up, despite numerous personal and business setbacks.  We will follow closely his next foray into the luxury market.

Listowel

All Write: 1. Mairead Buike ; 2. Aoife O'Mahoney and Maeve McDonagh; 3. Noelle Campbell-Sharpe. (Pix. BME)

The Listowel Writers’ Week launch at Dublin’s Mansion House saw figures from all walks of literary life celebrating the 42nd edition of Ireland’s oldest literary festival. Guests were treated to wine and canapés while they were entertained by the beautiful voice of gorgeous soprano, Mairead Buicke. 

Attending on the night were authors Kathleen MacMahon, Claire Kilroy and Gavin Corbett who were among the shortlist for the important Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award, which was unveiled at the event.  There were authors from the festival line up in attendance, with Evelyn Conlon, John Montague and Elizabeth Wassell at the event, along with journalist Sinead Gleeson who will be hosting some of events with some of the high profile writers at this year’s festival. 

Listowel Writers’ Week this year features 130 events in 30 venues over 5 days. Founded in 1970 to celebrate Listowel’s rich literary history, the Festival has grown to become one of the most prestigious events in Ireland’s literary calendar, giving writers from across the globe a forum to develop their talents and meet new audiences.

This 42nd edition of Listowel Writers’ Week features a wealth of talent from home and abroad, with appearances from Nadeem Aslam, Dermot Bolger, Marina Chapman, Emma Donoghue, Honor Donohoe, Robin Dunbar, Gabriel Fitzmaurice, Peggy Gallagher, Thomas Keneally, Gene Kerrigan, Martha Long, Colum McCann, Alison Moore, Andrew Miller, Rebecca Miller, Peter Murphy, Audrey Niffenegger, Colm Tóibín and Willy Vlautin.

Listowel Writers’ Week is from 29 May – 2 June.  www.writersweek.ie