Brendan Gleeson, a well-known Gaeilgeoir, or fluent Irish speaker, also gave an interview in Irish, while Colin Farrell, his co-star in “Banshees of Inisherin,” slowly backed away and was relieved to quickly find someone who would ask him questions in English.
He was a teacher for 10 years before becoming an actor. He is a fine fiddle player and can be seen playing it in Michael Collins (1996), Cold Mountain (2003) and also in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022). He taught English, Irish & Physical Education at Belcamp College Secondary School in Dublin.
Gleeson lives in Malahide, County Dublin. He is a talented fiddle player, with an interest in Irish folklore. He can be found from time to time playing at traditional music seisiúins in Hughes' pub in Chancery Street in Dublin 7.
Before the glitz and glamour of Hollywood red carpets, Brendan Gleeson taught Irish and English to school kids from north Dublin. As part of the Irish wave taking over the Oscars this year, Brendan and Barry Keoghan was nominated for best supporting actor for their roles in The Banshees of Inisherin.
Martin McDonagh, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson on The Banshees of Inisherin | Film4 Interview
Why was Brendan shunned from Hollywood?
In the late '90s and early noughties, Brendan wowed crowds in hit flicks such as The Mummy and George of the Jungle. But soon enough he found work dried up and discovered he had been "blacklisted" by Hollywood. The alleged shun came after he bravely opened up on claims of past abuse.
The Banshees Of Inisherin was filmed on Achill Island. Situated off the west coast of Ireland, the Aran Islands were also used for filming – contrary to the film's single island setting. This compilation of destinations was part of director Martin McDonagh's vision for the film.
Gleeson is an Irish surname. It is an anglicisation of the Irish name Ó Glasáin or Ó Gliasáin. The name is most common in County Tipperary but originates in East County Cork, in the once powerful Uí Liatháin kingdom, where the Gleesons were great lords and sometimes kings.
1: Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987), Russian-American. For many people, Heifetz was not only the greatest violinist of the twentieth century but of all time. He set new standards of excellence that later generations still attempt to emulate. Born in Vilnius, he was an international superstar from his earliest years.
Farrell and Gleeson met some 17 years ago but cemented their mutual admiration alliance onscreen first in McDonagh's raucous and fresh 2008 film In Bruges, of which Gleeson explained, “These characters are unlikely hit men, but they had to be believable as hit men.”
Domhnall Gleeson is an Irish actor and writer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill Weasley in the Harry Potter film franchise (2010-2011), About Time (2013), Ex Machina (2015) and The Revenant (2015). He is the son of actor Brendan Gleeson, alongside whom he has appeared in several films and theatre projects.
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are two peas in a Hollywood pod: Both accomplished actors, both Irish, and both part of a great on-screen duo that falls somewhere between Butch and Sundance, and Thelma and Louise.
It is intended as an allegory for the Irish Civil War ('Inisherin' translates to 'Island Ireland'), which was in full rage at that time. Colin Farrell plays Pádraic Súilleabháin, a small farmer, and Brendan Gleeson plays Colm Doherty, a fiddle player who scores traditional Irish music.
The message of the film is the downfall of culture and the way loss can destroy someone. With the two leads serving as metaphors for the Irish as a nation, the message of the film can be read as a cautionary tale.
While the answer to "what are the banshees of Inisherin?" may remain elusive, many are curious whether the film is based on a true story. Turns out the Golden Globe winner is a complete work of fiction, however, Martin McDonagh did draw from a lot of real-life history to craft its setting.
The film, which was written, directed and co-produced by Martin McDonagh, is one of only nine films in Oscar history to receive nine or more nominations and wind up with no wins at all.
And it's been recognized for it, with Farrell's nomination in Best Actor joined by Brendan Gleeson's and Barry Keoghan's in Supporting. But the best performance in Banshees—the one that heightens its comedy, deepens its tragedy, and tests the literal and existential limits of its setting—is Kerry Condon's.
