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Dominic West with the speakers before the event in Ballybunion on Saturday. Photo by Dermot Crean
HOLLYWOOD actor, Dominic West, was the main attraction at Scoil Iosagain in Ballybunion on Saturday for a special commemoration day.
The English-born star read the 1916 Proclamation at the event to honour three north Kerry men who died in the Rising and hundreds of people showed up for the afternoon.
He arrived with his wife – Catherine Fitzgerald, daughter of the last Knight of Glin – and their children and with great patience and courtesy posed for photographs for the many (mainly female) people present, before and after the event.
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The event itself was in honour of Michael Mulvihill (Ballyduff), The O’Rahilly (Ballylongford), and Patrick Shortis (Ballybunion), who all died in the Rising.
Speakers at the event were Judge Richard Johnson- Nephew of Patrick Shortis; Michael Mulvihill – Grandnephew of Michael Mulvihill and Ruth Sweetman – Granddaughter of The O’Rahilly, who all told the story of their relations’ involvement in the Rising.
Pupils from Scoil Iosagain also played their part in a very special event in Ballybunion and afterwards the star of The Affair patiently posed for the many people who showed up to see him. Scroll down for photos…
Avid fan of ‘The Wire’, Frank Hartnett, with actor Dominic West at the event in Ballybunion.
Radio Kerry’s Deirdre Walsh with Dominic West at the Ballybunion event.
Ruth Sweetman, granddaughter of The O’Rahilly, speaking at the event. Photo by Dermot Crean
Dominic West delivers the Proclamation.
Judge Richard Johnson, grandnephew of Paddy Shortis at the event.
Kerry County Council Arts Officer Kate Kennelly at the event in Ballybunion.
The audience applauding Dominic West for his contribution.
The large crowd at the event.
