Brian Friel: A dramatic life
  • 1929 Born Brian Patrick Friel in Killyclogher, Omagh, County Tyrone
  • 1951 Publishes first short story in The Bell.
  • 1954 Marries Anne Morrison. They go on to have 5 children.
  • 1960 First stage play A Doubtful Paradise produced by The Group Theatre, Belfast.
  • 1963 Spends several months with Tyrone Guthrie at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis.
  • 1964 Philadelphia Here I come! premieres at the Gate Theatre. It premieres on Broadway in 1966 and runs for nine months.
  • 1973 The Freedom of the City jointly premieres at The Abbey Theatre and the Royal Court, London. Meets actor Stephen Rea for the first time.
  • 1979 Faith Healer premieres in New York where it closes after 20 performances. In 2006 the Gate Theatre production, featuring Ralph Fiennes, enjoys a sell-out run on Broadway.
  • 1980 Founds Field Day Theatre Company with Stephen Rea.
  • 1987 Appointed to the Irish Senate by Charles J Haughey.
  • 1990 Premiere of Dancing at Lughnasa at the Abbey Theatre. It will go on to win 3 Tony Awards, an Olivier Award, an Evening Standard Award, a Writers Guild Award and a New York Drama Critics Circle Award.
  • 1999 A Friel Festival in Dublin celebrates his 70th birthday.
  • 2006 Elected Saoi of Aosdana.
  • 2008 Brian Friel's version of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabbler premieres at the Gate Theatre.