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HONORARY PATRONS
BRENDAN COYLE
Brendan Coyle (he/him) is a British-Irish actor. He is best known for his role as John Bates on the hit ITV/PBS series Downton Abbey (2010–2015), for which he received three Actor Awards, as well as nominations for a BAFTA and Primetime Emmy Award. He later reprised the role in the Downton Abbey film trilogy: Downton Abbey (2019), Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022), and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025). Coyle’s additional film credits include Ailsa (1994), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), I Could Read the Sky (1999), Offside (2006), Noble (2014), and Mary Queen of Scots (2018). His television credits include leading roles in Thief Takers (1995–1996), Rebel Heart (2001), Rockface (2002–2003), North & South (2004), Lark Rise to Candleford (2008–2010), Spotless (2015), and Riches (2022). A prolific stage actor, Coyle received a Laurence Olivier Award for originating the role of Brendan in Conor McPherson’s The Weir at the Royal Court Theatre. He later reprised his performance on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre, earning a Theatre World Award. His additional stage credits include Philadelphia, Here I Come! (Wyndham’s Theatre), The Silver Tassie (Almeida Theatre), The Changing Room (Duke of York’s Theatre), Battle Royal (Royal National Theatre), and St. Nicholas (Donmar Warehouse). Coyle was named an Honorary Patron of Origin Theatre Company in 2012.
NIALL TÓIBÍN
Niall Tóibín (he/him; 1929–2019) was an Irish actor and comedian. Born and raised in Cork to a Gaeilgeoir family, he began performing as a child with the Cork Opera House, as well as the Keating Branch of the Gaelic League. In 1953, he joined the Radio Éireann Players, where he remained a company member for fourteen years. He subsequently joined the company of the Abbey Theatre, where he appeared in dozens of productions. Tóibín made his Broadway debut in 1970 at the Lyceum Theatre in Frank McMahon’s The Borstal Boy, for which he received the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play. His film credits included Ryan’s Daughter (1970), Poitín (1978), The Ballroom of Romance (1982), Far and Away (1992), The Nephew (1998), and Veronica Guerin (2003). His many television credits included leading roles in Bracken (1980–1982), The Irish R.M. (1983–1985), The Confessional (1989), Stay Lucky (1990–1993), Ballykissangel (1996–2001), and The Clinic (2003–2005). Tóibín was the author of a memoir, Smile and Be a Villain! (TownHouse, 1995), as well as a collection of poetry, The Irish Reciter (Blackstaff Press, 1986). Among his many honors, he received the Irish Film and Television Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the Sunday Independent’s Lifetime Achievement Award for “Distinguished Service to the Theatre.” Tóibín was named an Honorary Patron of Origin Theatre Company in 2012.
LIAM NEESON
Liam Neeson (he/him) is an Irish actor from Ballymena, County Antrim. Throughout a distinguished career spanning more than four decades, Neeson has received numerous accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and the Volpi Cup. In 2000, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. His film credits include Schindler’s List (1993), Michael Collins (1996), Les Misérables (1998), Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999), Gangs of New York (2002), Love Actually (2003), Batman Begins (2005), Taken (2008), The Grey (2011), and Non-Stop (2014). Films in which he has appeared have grossed more than US$11.7 billion worldwide. On stage, Neeson joined the Lyric Players’ Theatre in Belfast in 1976, where he appeared for two seasons. He made his Broadway debut in the 1992 revival of Eugene O’Neill’s Anna Christie, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play for his performance as Matt Burke. He received a second Tony Award nomination in the same category for his portrayal of John Proctor in the 2002 Broadway revival of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. On London’s West End, he portrayed Oscar Wilde in David Hare’s The Judas Kiss (1998). Neeson was named an Honorary Patron of Origin Theatre Company in 2015.
MALACHY MCCOURT
Malachy McCourt (he/him; 1931–2024) was an Irish-American actor, writer, and broadcaster. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was raised from the age of three in Limerick, Ireland, before returning to the United States in 1952. His theatre credits included Mass Appeal, DA, The Hostage, Inherit the Wind, Carousel, and Translations, with appearances on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in regional theatres. McCourt’s film credits included The Molly Maguires (1970), Green Card (1990), Reversal of Fortune (1990), The Field (1990), She’s the One (1996), The Devil’s Own (1997), Gods and Generals (2003), and Ash Wednesday (2002). He was also a frequent guest on The Tonight Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and other television programs. A celebrated raconteur and broadcaster, McCourt hosted radio programs on WMCA, WNYC, and other New York stations beginning in the 1970s. He was also the proprietor of Malachy’s, a renowned Irish bar on Manhattan’s Third Avenue, which became a gathering place for members of New York’s Irish and literary communities. McCourt was the author of numerous books, including the New York Times bestselling memoir A Monk Swimming (1998) and Singing My Him Song (2000). He also wrote Danny Boy: The Legend of the Beloved Irish Ballad (2002), The Claddagh Ring: Ireland’s Cherished Symbol of Friendship, Loyalty and Love (2003), Voices of Ireland (2002), and History of Ireland (2004), among others. Among many honors, McCourt received awards from the City Club of New York, New York Magazine, Turning Point, Irish America Magazine, and the New York Civil Liberties Union. He was named an Honorary Patron of Origin Theatre Company in 2017.
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