Plenty of 'Bull' expected at Limerick's Harris anniversary festival
"IT'S relatively easy to look like the Bull McCabe, all you need to get it together is a fake beard, a farmer's cap and a pair of wellies," explained O'Callaghan's Mills artist Thomas Delohery in advance of five days of Richard Harris celebrations at Charlie St George's.
The Parnell Street pub was the Hollywood icon's second home on his visits back to Limerick, and the management have decided to host a Harris mini-festival to coinicde with the seventh anniversary of his death.
And it all kicks off with the Bull McCabe – who Harris memorably played in The Field – lookalike competition next Wednesday October 21, from 6pm to 9pm.
Two kegs of beer are up for grabs for the best Bull, which Mr Delohery said was similar to the Papa Hemingway lookalike competition in Florida.
It was to Charlie's that Harris would come to talk rugby and Young Munsters with locals over a pint of Guinness or a brandy and port.
With plenty of Harris memorabilia about the pub, Charlie's has become a shrine for his fans, with many stopping by to get their picture taken. Harris' Gladiator co-star Russell Crowe made his own pilgrimage a few years ago.
"Part of his history was his association with this bar, which was his favourite spot when he came to Limerick. We thought now was as good a time as any to celebrate that association as we will be finishing up on his anniversary," said Mr Delohery, who is planning the Charlie St George Tribute to Richard Harris along with Murrough O'Byrne, Paula Casey and Tommy Dore, all of Charlie St George's.
Fans can test their knowledge of Harris the man and his filmography in a fun quiz on Thursday, October 22, at 8pm, which will also include questions on Harris' specialist subjects of Munster rugby and Limerick city. Musician Leo Shine is quizmaster on the night.
Inspiring a lookalike competition is not the only connection Hemingway has with his fellow hirsute hellraiser from Limerick, and Charlie's will be screening Wrestling Ernest Hemingway.
"It's not really about Hemingway at all, but in it Harris plays an old Irish sailor whose claim to fame is having once wrestled with Hemingway. It's a very good film but one of his lesser-known ones as RTE always choose to put it out and one or two in the morning.But the idea here is to show some of the lesser-known Harris films," explained Mr Delohery.
Another of these is The Red Desert (1964), which features a cameo from Limerick poet Desmond O'Grady.
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway will screen on Friday, October 23, from 4.30pm and will include an introduction by Declan McLoughlin, co-founder of the Belltable Film Club.
Poet Mark Whelan will read a selection of his Harris-inspired works on Saturday, October 24, and this event also includes an exhibition of Harris paintings by Mr Delohery.
Signed stills from the sets of Harris movies and other mementos are to form a Wall of Memories at the pub, which is to be officially unveiled as the festival ends on the seventh anniversary of his death on October 25 at 3pm.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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