24 W H O ’S W H O I N S PI R I N G H O P E I N A N AT IO N I N T U R M OI L Sunday Independent 28 November 2010

FIACH MAC CONGHAIL MICHAEL McDOWELL SINCE its foundation at the beginning of the last MARIE CHAWKE MUCH as we may wish to avert our gaze, the ‘They century by Yeats and Lady Gregory, the National THE hotel industry crisis we currently face can be likened to war, Theatre has held a mirror up to our society in its is one of the most albeit an economic war as opposed to one say the many incarnations. As a theatre, film and visual exposed and featuring the familiar trappings of military arts producer and former adviser to the vulnerable in hardware. Bearing such analogies in mind, the Government, Fiach MacConghail has both the Ireland, yet Marie lessons of history insist that the indispensable darkest luvvie credentials and political nous to steer the Chawke of Aghadoe figures in wartime have integrity, courage, Abbey through the choppy waters of recession Heights has adapted wisdom and experience in the Churchillian hour and relocation. We also have him to thank for to the freezing winds mould. Michael McDowell possesses these traits recently bringing a much-needed dollop of of change with in abundance. His status in the public Hollywood glamour to our beleaguered capital in energy and courage. consciousness has undergone quite a comeback, is right the shape of Alan Rickman and Lindsay Duncan. Dividing her time one reflected in his own career. His tendency as a between Killarney young politician to raise the fears of the middle and Dublin across class like quills upon the fearful porpentine has before DIARMUID GAVIN seven working days been replaced by an enviable grasp of the WHEN he urged us to be per week, she and common touch, one synonymous with the the positive and get up and do husband Pat mellowing of age during his time as attorney something on a recent Late continue to provide general. Fearless in the face of the scourges of Late Show, many people the standard of criminality and terrorism, he is exactly what we dawn.’ thought Diarmuid Gavin was service that Irish people have grown need in a political leader in Ireland at the either drunk or on drugs. For accustomed to in the last decade. Both locally, moment, regardless of party affiliation. - Joseph the record, the designer, writer in the retention of jobs, and nationally, she has and landscape gardener refused to be daunted by the downturn, touches neither. But he knows remaining upbeat and dynamic when RUAIRI QUINN O’Connor what it is to feel despair and how not to give up. approaching her chosen field. Gratitude is PAIRED together, both Ruairi In his journey from sleeping on the floors of merited for one who would ensure that our Quinn and Pat Rabbitte (from friends' houses, all his worldly possessions in a services do not deteriorate amid the turmoil. represent the twin pillars of black bin liner, to talking to the Queen of the Labour Party, and their England about his award-winning garden at the collective experience is vital for Dylan's Chelsea Flower Show, this (extra)ordinary boy PAUL COSTELLOE surviving this depression. from Rathfarnham is living proof of what PAUL Costelloe’s continued success as an Irish Though we perhaps need a Meet Me happens when you follow your dreams. dress designer shows that nothing can beat the different approach to politics old dog for the hard road. He has continued to at present, difference is not synonymous with produce top-quality clothes with the requisite greenness. Ruairi Quinn has seen both sides of In The amount of self-criticism and self-analysis, and the coin in Irish life — the boom times and the without any pause for self-pity. The standard of current bust. Far from our predicament being Morning) his work, like that of Paul Kelly and John unprecedented, comparable obstacles were visible Rocha, reminds us of one crucial thing — even in the 1980s, when Ruairi Quinn was no cub in the hardest of times, people’s need for politician. This instilled in him an awareness that beauty is intimately bound up with self-esteem. the grinding down of the human spirit will do little to ease our problems; we must instead look to uplift. His recent statements on the JOHN ROCHA disestablishment of FAS are a testament to his HONG Kong-born John character, particularly coming from a Labour ‘Never Rocha is an honorary politician. He also knows that, though hostility Irishman who has stuck by may not be far from the surface of many Irish take this country through thick people, we cannot write off developers, as the and thin — a fashion country will need them again in the future. designer whose work advice.’ remains effortlessly PAT RABBITTE FIONA SHAW beautiful. Although proudly claimed twice a AT a time when the eloquence - John OUR greatest actress, and an Irish export to be year by London Fashion Week, his allegiance of certain party leaders leaves a proud of. Whether it's as Harry Potter's ghastly and inspiration, as he so frequently restates, lot to be desired, Pat Rabbitte's Aunt Petunia, Hedda Gabler, Electra or Richard remain in Ireland. Though his own personal verbal dexterity is sorely Banville II, Fiona Shaw brings her exceptional gifts — economy has suffered pitfalls, this has not needed. Like Michael commitment to hard work and consummate diminished or daunted his efforts, and his McDowell, the intelligence he professionalism — to every role she inhabits. She ability to recover from financial drawbacks brandished ensured he was not also fends off tabloid intrusions into her private should be held up as a model for all during this easily fazed. The cut and thrust life with a winning combination of dignity and depression. of parliamentary debate were humour. This Cork woman has twice won the elevated to a higher plateau by his concision and Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress and is consistent ability to pin down le mot juste when also highly rated as a director. A stellar example PAUL KELLY providing a sound bite. He was also a much more of what talent, positivity and hard work can bring PAUL Kelly is a retailer par fluid political thinker than many of the you. excellence. Because of his reactionaries in government today, fluidity being position as managing an undervalued commodity in all walks of life. director of Selfridges in We are worse off for having lost his leadership in JIM SHERIDAN London, he is universally the face of disappointing election results, for he HE left his native Dublin in 1981 with a couple of recognised on the world was a Labour politician in the Gordon Brown hundred dollars in his pocket and settled his retail stage. Ireland is fortunate to still have mould. Contrast his elegance with the boorish young family in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. Since him as CEO of Brown Thomas. Scientific in his volume of Brian Cowen, and you’ll see his value. then, Sheridan's films have earned six Academy analysis of spending trends, his instinct gives Award nominations. More important than this the impression that he holds the secret to the though, in movies such as My Left Foot, The Field, consumer economy. Our politicians could learn EOIN MORGAN In the Name of the Father and In America he uses much from him if they would come off their WITH Remembrance Day his artistic vision to manifest how the high horses and listen to one who knows how having just gone by, and the marginalised and the dispossessed, and to get people spending again. future of this State so specifically the Irish, can fight back. uncertain, Ireland may finally be coming to terms with its NOIRIN NI RIAIN past, pre-independence — a COLM TOIBIN AS important as the economy period often suppressed in the BACK in the day when Ireland undoubtedly is, there are public’s memory. Eoin Morgan, was enduring an earlier times when we must the Dublin-born cricketer aged just 24, represents recession, Wexford-born transcend the crisis, and it is this new-found sense of pride in breaking journalist Colm Toibin was then we need to reflect on previous historical taboos. His prodigious talent, editing Magill, the current one of the heavenly choirs, displayed on the England cricket team, might affairs magazine. Since then he such as the angelic voice of distance many Irish citizens who lack confidence has gone on to write novels, Noirin Ni Riain. Her spiritual, in our relationship with the UK. However, it is plays and books of criticism, traditional Irish singing worth remembering that 150 years ago cricket and still finds time to pen seems backed by a celestial choir; as indeed is was Ireland’s national game. That Eoin Morgan some journalism and organise almost the case when she performs with the has travelled to England to play his sport of literary festivals. Three of his novels have been Monks of Glenstal as or as part of A.M.E.N. choice only proves his eminence; given that either short- or long-listed for the Booker Prize, with her sons Eoin and Micheal Music has the country’s pride in cricket, its selection of an including his most recent, prescient study of power to lift and transport us from our daily Irishman is no token gesture. Nothing is more emigration, Brooklyn. A beautiful writer of grind, and remind us that, though media inspirational than the sight of an athlete at the international stature who makes us proud to be coverage may dwell incessantly on our woes, top of his or her game. That is what we see when Irish. there are greater things in life. we look at Eoin Morgan.