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Dominic West as Noah in ‘The Affair’. The actor will be in Ballybunion this Saturday.
ACTOR Dominic West was on Radio Kerry this morning talking about his Irish connections, why he’s in Ballybunion this Saturday and why he attracted the attention of mothers at a Cúl Camp in west Limerick last year.
The 46 year old Sheffield-born actor, who shot to fame as Jimmy McNulty in seminal TV show ‘The Wire’ and lately in award-winning ‘The Affair’, told Jerry O’Sullivan on the ‘Kerry Today’ show, that Jimmy Deenihan persuaded him to come to Ballybunion on Saturday to read the 1916 Proclamation at Scoil Íosagáin (starting at 4pm).
Continued below…
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Three men who died in the 1916 Rising -Michael Mulvihill (Ballyduff), The O’Rahilly (Ballylongford), and Patrick Shortis (Ballybunion) – will be commemorated.
West was reluctant at first but when he heard Judge Richard Johnson – nephew of Patrick Shortis – was speaking, he agreed as Johnson is the husband of his godmother Nuala. He was also wary of reading the Proclamation with a English accent, but Jimmy said once he reads it with gusto he’ll be fine.
He also said that he feels very much Irish as his mother’s parents were Irish, his wife is from Glin and he has two sisters living in Dublin for years. He was always drawn to Ireland and went to Trinity College.
West said his first experience of fame was in Ireland, because ‘The Wire’ was first shown on this side of the Atlantic on TG4, so people in Dublin would call him Jimmy and want to buy him Jameson.
He spoke about his hopes that someone would buy Glin Castle, the childhood home of his wife, and it would be preserved as it’s an important part of Irish history.
‘The Affair’ has brought him further fame and when he brought his kids to a Cúl Camp in Ballyhahill last year, women were coming up to him saying they thought he was great as Noah Solloway – which he felt a little embarrassed about due to the nature of his role.
He also said he was looking forward to returning to Ballybunion, and hoped the seaweed baths would be open. We’re sure whoever’s in charge might be able to sort that out!
• Speakers at the event on Saturday will include, Judge Richard Johnson- Nephew of Patrick Shortis; Michael Mulvihill – Grandnephew of Michael Mulvihill and Ruth Sweetman – Granddaughter of The O’Rahilly. There will be a Mass at 7.30pm and everybody is welcome.
