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RTÉ News
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Richard Harris exhibition opens in Limerick city museum
A new exhibition of photographs, videos and many personal items depicting the life of the late actor Richard Harris has opened in Limerick city. The display, called 'Dickie to Richard', in The Hunt Museum tells the story of his life from childhood to his successful acting career. It also includes the cloak he wore while playing wizard Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series. Director and CEO of the Hunt Museum Teresa Crowley said that the exhibition has been in development over the last three years and that it is the result of a collaboration between the Harris family, University College Cork and the museum. Following his death in 2002, his family donated the actor's archive to UCC. "We thought of his life like a stick of rock, with very strong threads running through his entire life, his love for his family, his creative pursuits and his global stardom," Ms Crowley said. She said this helped create the pathway for the story of the exhibition. Richard Harris was born in 1930 and grew up in a happy, prosperous household in Limerick. He was fifth in a family of eight children. He was educated at the Jesuit Crescent College where he excelled at rugby, but contracted TB in his late teens, which kept him bedridden for two years. Mr Harris later said that it was during that convalescence that he turned to literature and developed a lifelong love for the written word, which translated into his interest in performing. Moving to London in 1955, he trained at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. He then met the influential theatre director Joan Littlewood who cast him in The Quare Fellow by Brendan Behan in 1956. He then started getting some work in television, but it was his role as Frank, the classic angry young man in the 1963 movie 'This Sporting Life' that started his journey to film stardom. He won 'Best Actor' at the Cannes Film Festival that year for his role in the film. His global break came on the back of his role as King Arthur in Camelot. The crown he used in the film is also included in the exhibition. He went on to be cast in a number of films and his career spanned decades. Other roles included The Field, Gladiator, A Man Called Horse, Unforgiven and Patriot Games. His son Jared Harris, who is also an acclaimed actor, came to Limerick to open the exhibition. Mr Harris said that his father was "a larger than life character, adding that "in many ways he had to restrain his personality for the camera". He said that "to get the full effect of his personality, you had to see him either on stage, in a theatre piece, because then he just filled up the room". Jared Harris said it was his role as Dumbledore in Harry Potter that introduced his father to a new generation and he is delighted that Dumbledore's costume is in the exhibition. He said that the importance of his Limerick roots was always important to his father. Richard Harris was often spotted wearing a Munster rugby jersey. "He loved being brought right back, to who he was as a kid, as a young man," Jared Harris said. "This is where his identity was forged and where that dream started, if you like," he added. The exhibition runs until November in the Hunt Museum.
Irish Post
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Richard Harris 'homecoming' exhibition opens in Co. Limerick
A NEW exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Irish actor Richard Harris has opened in his native Co. Limerick. 'From Dickie to Richard — Richard Harris: Role of a Lifetime' offers a unique glimpse inside the life of the award-winning actor and global star, who never lost his deep connection to his hometown. Described as a 'homecoming' for the late actor, who passed away in 2002, the exhibition features never-before-seen materials from his personal archive. Opening at the Hunt Museum on Friday, it draws on the Richard Harris Archive, which was donated by the actor's family to University College Cork in 2022. "This exhibition is a homecoming for Richard," said Teresa Crowley, the museum's CEO. "It not only honours his extraordinary career but celebrates his Limerick, Munster and Irish roots, offering the public a unique opportunity to explore his artistic and sporting world in the city where his journey began." 'Stunning tribute' Harris was twice nominated for an Oscar during a stellar career, first for 1963's This Sporting Life and again for the 1990 drama, The Field. He also had memorable roles in Camelot (1967), A Man Called Horse (1970), The Wild Geese (1978) and Unforgiven (1992). As well as critical acclaim, he also starred in several box office hits right up to his passing, including Ridley Scott's epic Gladiator (2000) and the first two Harry Potter films, in which he played Professor Dumbledore. The new exhibition is the first public display of items from Harris' personal collection, including annotated film and theatre scripts, letters, photographs, poetry, music recordings and memorabilia. Highlights include the original crown from Camelot, Harris' cherished Munster Rugby jersey and intimate 8mm home footage filmed in Limerick. Together, these pieces tell the story of an artist who defied convention across theatre, writing and music and whose influence continues to resonate. "The exhibition comprises carefully selected artefacts from the larger archive now housed, protected, preserved and researched at University College Cork for generations to come," said UCC President Professor John O'Halloran. "We were keen that the first public exhibition of the Richard Harris Archives occurred in Limerick and this collaboration with the Hunt Museum has produced a stunning tribute to one of the most iconic film actors of the late twentieth century." 'Creative fire' Harris' children Jared, Jamie and Damien attended the official opening of the exhibition during a special mayoral reception at the museum. Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, who also previously served as Chair of the museum, presented an official mayoral scroll to the family, posthumously commemorating Harris' contributions to Limerick's story, the arts, the cultural legacy of Ireland and to the global stage. "Richard Harris showed the world that someone from Limerick could rise from local roots to global stages without ever compromising his authenticity," said Mayor Moran. "His story is a reminder of the creative fire that lives in Limerick, in its storytellers, its actors, its musicians and its dreamers. "The characters he brought to life for us all will live with us forever." The exhibition runs from Tuesday to Sunday until November 16, 2025. There is a general admission fee of €12.50 for adults, while tickets for students and those over 65 are €10 and children under 16 go free. You can book tickets by clicking here. See More: Limerick, Richard Harris, The Hunt Museum
Daily Mirror
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Virgin Media offers blockbuster TV upgrade that's available now for free
IF you use Virgin Media TV then you can get more channels without paying a penny extra. If you are bored with the current crop of content on your TV screen and you happen to use Virgin Media's telly platform, there's good news. The telecoms firm has just announced it's dishing out two new channels to customers, and the best part is... this TV upgrade is totally free. Virgin says the changes will arrive directly via your set-top box and include British Screen Classics (Ch 450) and wedotv movies (Ch 451). These new FAST channels will show content 24 hours a day, seven days a week and now join other free advert-supported services on Virgin. 'Virgin TV is home to the best in entertainment and more choice for our subscribers. We offer enhanced value with fantastic on demand and channel content at no extra cost, including two brand-new streaming movie channels," said David Bouchier, Chief TV and Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2. "On top of the existing streaming channels available to Virgin TV customers, they now have even more choice and 24/7 access to exciting movies for free.' If you want to know what's included on these channels, we've got full details below. British Screen Classics (Ch450): This new service offers a multitude of film and TV gems originating from the iconic classic film libraries of ITV STUDIOS and STUDIO CANAL brought together in one dedicated FAST channel. The channel will take viewers on a journey through Britain's great cinematic heritage by delving deep into the history of legendary British film studios and production houses to provide a 24/7 stream of adored titles such as This Sporting Life, Doctor in the House, Heaven's Above! and Clockwise. From comedy to horror, war, adventure, drama, and romance; every theme and genre is covered. wedotv movies (Ch451): A contemporary film channel with a catalogue of over 500 movies across all genres. The channel has genre themed stunts each day such as Romance Mondays and Sci-fi Wednesdays, as well as special seasonal events tied to key calendar moments including Halloween and Christmas. If you have Virgin TV, you shouldn't need to touch your box or retune it with the upgrade happening automatically.
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
New-look Wakefield cast off old image on Super League return
It used to be the case that turning up at Wakefield's Belle Vue home was like entering a time warp. The setting visible in Richard Harris' 1963 classic 'This Sporting Life, external' was the very same one observed almost 60 years later, barring the affectionately named 'Benidorm flats' corporate boxes. The faded blue, white and red paintwork, the ageing outhouse toilets, the tired concrete paddock was a nostalgic relic of a bygone age. Those sepia days were successful ones for Trinity and yet while the ground might have looked the same, the team certainly did such as Derek 'Rocky' Turner, Harold Poynton and the famous Fox brothers had carried Wakefield to Wembley glories and silverware galore, but they were deep in the felt like change might never happen. But, in an unlikely sequence of events, it Trinity has a vibe about the place, a buzz, a crackle of energy and excitement. There is a rapidly improving stadium, complete with new multi-purpose had to go backwards to come forwards, and now there is a spring in the step after being re-admitted to Super League for opening-round win at Leeds sets them up perfectly for the visit of Hull KR and the return of top-flight rugby to the city this weekend. New owners, new outlook To say that owner Matt Ellis has come in and transformed Wakefield is kitchen business owner and fan has changed the mentality, overhauled facilities and importantly appointed the right people on the football side to obtain from Super League in 2023 meant Trinity had to start again, clearing the decks on the personnel side to rebuild and the heart of his vision was to bring in a coach with a track record of improving clubs from difficult positions, a man who had turned Featherstone into winners, transformed Castleford from cannon fodder to Powell was the target, and Ellis got him on board, following the 59-year-old's departure from a tough stint at Warrington."To start with a blank canvas and go again, I didn't need to reinvent myself but I needed to re-energise myself," Powell told BBC Radio 5 live."Last year we built a squad eventually that was outstanding; we worked hard. One of the first people I employed was Ste Mills as recruitment manager and having someone who completely focuses on that has been awesome to be honest."It allows me to just look after the team and the boys and make sure they function in the right way. "The whole thing, Matt's attitude towards it all, a club needing a complete rebuild, was perfect for me and I'm glad to be having another opportunity with a great group of people to have a crack at Super League."The work of Michael Carter, John Minards and the previous regime set the wheels in motion for the new East Stand, but Ellis has built on that by enhancing Wakefield's facilities and there are further plans to revamp and improve."A whole lot has changed, the stadium itself is a huge change and some of that was down to the previous owners who did some work there but Matt is making sure it's the whole stadium," Powell added."That will take time but it does feel completely different. If you were at the [Championship] Grand Final where it was a full stadium and an iconic moment when Jerry [retiring player Jermaine McGillvary] kicked the goal, it felt like a club that was going somewhere." Bringing back pride, and old favourites The return to Super League came after a 2024 season in which Wakefield won a Wembley final in the 1895 Cup competition, stormed the Championship and beat Toulouse on the aforementioned raucous Grand Final night at the DIY Kitchens Stadium back in to the stadium, the investment of Ellis and success on the turf all transpired to allow Trinity to meet the IMG criteria and points threshold to make their top-flight was news that reached the club while the squad was on a post-season trip to Dublin, meaning Powell's favourite tipple tasted all the had already been earmarked with such ambitions in mind, including England internationals Mike McMeeken and Tom Johnstone, both secured from Catalans 29, was a particularly sweet coup for Trinity, as it meant a homegrown player was back in their midst, having scored 87 tries in 116 games in his first stint."The main thing for me is the mindset of the club; they want to succeed," Johnstone told BBC Sport. "It used to be, every year, 'let's not finish bottom'. Now it's 'we want to win'."Matt [Ellis] described it to me as a sleeping giant, a team that won everything in the 1960s and it has fallen away since. He wants to see Trinity back at the top, he's recruited really well and it's something we can look to do." Johnstone's return is a powerful message that Wakefield are keen to make an impact, and future retention will be built around a core of self-produced talent as well as outside recruitment."We don't want players like Tom Johnstone or Corey Hall to leave," underlines Powell. "We're pretty determined if young players come through the system, we want to keep them at the club and make sure they can compete to win things within what we're doing."It's the long-term plan. Tom coming back in, signing Mike McMeeken, Jake Trueman, Cam Scott, we've signed a whole host of experienced Super League players and a couple of international players obviously." 'We can be a challenge for any team' Saturday's 14-12 win over a much-vaunted Leeds suggested Wakefield have the ingredients to make a fist of their Super League opportunity in Jowitt has taken his 2024 form, which saw him break points-scoring records at Trinity, into the new season and Trueman looked revitalised and, most importantly, fit, having been reunited with old Castleford mentor of fans witnessed the impact on Headingley's Western Terrace, and even more are expected to pass through the turnstiles on Thursday to welcome their Trinity heroes and turn up the heat on last season's runners-up."We want our fans to generate that feel around the stadium every time we are at home," Powell added. "This Hull KR round-two game is a fair old challenge five days out from Leeds, but we know what it is, we're confident we can go and be a challenge for any team that we play against."We're not going to win every game, but we'll go there with a will and a confidence that we can."We need to get into it, get a feel for where the team's at, but you don't know until you start getting belted around the field and see how you manage the tough challenges that are being thrown at us."
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Lithgow Faces the ‘Impossible Task' of Selecting Only a Few Items from the Criterion Closet
'Hi, I'm John Lithgow. I've been given this impossible task to pick out Blu-rays of films that have meant something to me in my life. All of them great.' Could this possibly be a more inviting intro to a Criterion Closet video? We think not. More from IndieWire Annie Awards 2025: 'The Wild Robot' Dominates with 9 Wins - Including Best Feature 'Anora' Wins PGA Award for Theatrical Motion Picture (Complete Winners List) While the 'Conclave' star's Cardinal Tremblay may be a snake in some vestments, beloved performer John Lithgow is nothing but a charmer who's love of cinema is as deeply rooted as his long career. Tracing back to its beginnings, Lithgow shared that one of his early selections, the Richard Harris-led drama 'This Sporting Life' directed by Lindsay Anderson and written by David Storey, had a direct connection with one of his first breakout roles. 'There is a play that David Storey wrote which is basically derived from 'This Sporting Life.' I played a role in it when its American premiere took place on Broadway — 'The Changing Room' — when I was 27 years old,' said Lithgow. 'It was my Broadway debut. And two weeks after it debuted, I won a Tony Award for it. So, needless to say, that goes in my bag.' Lithgow went on to grab a film he's actually featured in, Brian De Palma's 'Blow Out' starring John Travolta and Nancy Allen. The actor also worked with De Palma on 'Obsession' and 'Raising Cain' and described the filmmaker as 'the master of the macabre.' 'It's all about a sound man who finds a little scrap of sound that he's recorded that unwinds this very elaborate sort of Secret Service undercover crime. And I am the criminal in this case,' Lithgow said of 'Blow Out.' 'I have been three of Brian's villains. They're all kind of innocuous, slightly faceless men who are supposed to be the last person you'd suspect of doing horrific Brian De Palma things.' After Lithgow chose The Complete Jacques Tati set and offered his impression of the filmmaker and actor's famous tall, clumsy oddball Monsieur Hulot, he explained how the character highly influenced his role on the sitcom '3rd Rock from the Sun.' Though he said he loved all of Tati's work, there is one that stands above the rest to Lithgow. 'The great classic to me is 'Mon Oncle.' He just takes his time setting up a comedy sequence,' he said. 'It can take five minutes to build to this astounding payoff. And it's a lesson in comedy.' Watch Lithgow's full Criterion Closet visit below. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
