Edward Farrell: EVEN THOUGH he had not been well for a while, the recent death of solicitor and impresario Edward Farrell was greeted with shock by his family, friends and the theatre community, the latter having lost a great champion.
His death, aged 56, marked the ending of an illustrious career as theatre producer and promoter that spanned the last four decades. He was still a teenager when he first started to bring Big Maggieto the Dean Crowe Hall in his native Athlone.
After the death of his father at a young age, his mother, Angela (nee Keane), ran the well-known Forty One public house in Church Street, Athlone, while Edward, the eldest of three boys, was sent to Newbridge College at the age of nine.
By all accounts, he liked his time in Newbridge and excelled academically. While he had been actively involved in theatre from an early age, Newbridge College's drama society saw that love of theatre develop, and it would continue to be a big part of his life.
However, it was the legal profession that proved his first calling and after completing his BCL in UCD, he graduated as a solicitor in the Michaelmas term 1982. After working briefly in the practices of McKenzie's and Liam Lysett in Dublin, he returned to Athlone to set up his own practice in 1984, serving Athlone town and the midlands. He was a remarkable solicitor and was well-liked and respected in the community, and this was reflected in his practice.
He was also a life-long rugby admirer and this was probably no accident, as he was a nephew of the late Dr Jim Keane, who was was a former president of the IRFU and gave his name to Athlone's Keane Park.
If he was a success as a solicitor, he was equally successful as an impresario. Under the umbrella of Big Top Productions he staged many charity events in aid of St Hilda's Home, Athlone, of which he was chairman in 1984. The many stars who took part included Maureen Potter, Tony Kenny, Colin Baker, Ann Bushnell, Candy Divine and many others. As a shareholder in the Olympia Theatre, he produced the musical Greasewith an all-star cast. At the Tivoli Theatre, he successfully staged Fergus Linehan's adaptation of The Streets of Dublinwith Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner, Ron Moody.
He formed a great bond with members of RTÉ's drama Glenroe, and in 1994 toured with cast members in John Murphy's great play The Country Boy.
In the late 1990s he produced revivals of John B Keane's great comedies, including Molland the highly successful The Chastitute, which played for an unprecedented 11 weeks at the Gaiety Theatre. He had little problem enticing well-known names into his productions and the actors who starred for him were a who's who of Irish theatre, including Mick Lally, Maureen Toal, Anna Manahan, Frank Kelly, Eileen Colgan, Pat Leavy and Adele King.
He had a great love of musicals, in particular Stephen Sondheim shows, and staged Side by Side by Sondheimwith Rebecca Storm at the Tivoli and Folliesfor one night at the National Concert Hall with Irish and West End stars together on stage. His last high point was having his production of Mollperformed at New York's Town Hall Theater, which gave his immense satisfaction.
He possessed an extraordinary wit and you could not wish to be in better company. His late night phone calls were legendary, as are the many stories about him. For those who knew him, he was never one for time-keeping, apart from a few occasions, one in particular being in 1987 when he married his beloved wife Mary.
He was born to serve both his careers. Described by a friend as the lawyer's lawyer, he was also the actor's producer, always generous, always loyal, a true friend to all who knew him.
He will be missed sadly by wife Mary, sons Eddie and Frank, brothers John and Thomas. I líonta Dé go gcastar sinn.
Edward Farrell: born November 19th, 1951; died March 10th, 2008.