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Sean Crummey

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Seán Crummey
Born1957
Died13 November 2011
NationalityIrish
Years active1990s–2011
GenresImpressions, sketch comedy actor, writer
SpouseGabrielle Maguire
ChildrenConor Crummey, Niamh Crummey, Brendan Crummey
Notable works and rolesThe Folks on the Hill (radio and television series);
Stormont (stage play)

Seán Crummey (1957 – 13 November 2011) was a Belfast playwright, actor[1] and comic impressionist[2] who is most notable as both the writer and the male voice-over star of The Folks on the Hill,[3] a hugely successful, popular programme[4] that started in 2001[5] and ran for over 10 years[3] with a total of seventeen radio and animated television series. The show is considered by many to be one of BBC NI's most successful programmes due to its longevity and popularity.

Biography

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Crummey was born and grew up in the Glen Road district of West Belfast. He attended St. Kevin's Primary School and then St Malachy's College before proceeding to Queen's University Belfast from which he graduated in 1980 with a BA in French and Classical Greek.[6] He taught French language for seventeen years at De La Salle College, Belfast.[2] [7]

Comic career

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He worked the after-dinner comic entertainment circuit for many years, and he felt that his language background contributed to his voice-over impressions.[2][8] During the Troubles, comedians needed to adopt a non-partisan stance, so his stage name was a neutral-sounding non-Catholic pseudonym.[9]

Seán Crummey was well known for his hilariously accurate depictions[10] and his gentle, humorous political satire.[11] He impersonated dozens of voices, particularly of Northern Ireland politicians.[1] Some of Crummey's favourite voices to impersonate were the late PUP leader David Ervine, Pope John Paul II, and Bill McLaren.[12]

He also wrote and starred in Stormont, a stage play produced by Martin Lynch and directed by Michael Poynor,[13] that ran at the Theatre at the Mill in Newtownabbey mid-September to early October 2010 selling out many nights of the show's run.[14][15] On stage, Crummey alternately mimicked two politicians, Ulster Unionist Michael McGimpsey and Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly.[1][16]

He died from a cancer-related illness[12][17] just a day after his final show was broadcast.[11] Politicians from across the political spectrum gave respectful tribute to his comic genius, penetrating humour, and talented political commentary.[3][18][19] His funeral was attended by thousands and an unusually large number of famous individuals from all walks of life.[11]

A tribute show was broadcast on New Year's Day, 2012.[3][20] A memorial fund set up in memory of Seán Crummey donated £60,000 to Queen's Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology (CCRCB).[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Stormont play 'questions identity'". 4ni-Northern Ireland on the Internet, Flagship Media Group Ltd. 20 September 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "Remembering Sean Crummey". YouTube.
  3. ^ a b c d "BBC NI show pays tribute to Folks on the Hill's Sean Crummey". BBC News Northern Ireland. 9 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Son's tears for satirist Sean". The Mirror (London). 17 November 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  5. ^ "Folks on the Hill satirist who kept us all laughing until the very end ; Owen McFadden pays tribute to top mimic Sean Crummey who died at the weekend". Belfast Telegraph. 15 November 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Folks on the Hill creator Sean Crummey remembered". Development & Alumni Relations Office, Queen's University Belfast.
  7. ^ Halles, Anne (11 May 2015). "Untimely death not the end of comic Crummey's story". The Irish News. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  8. ^ "I love to put a little swing in my weekends". Belfast Telegraph. 25 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  9. ^ Vidal, A (2 August 2010). "Britain craics up: devolution has changed the face of political comedy in the UK for the better, says Ava Vidal". Vol. 139 Issue 5012, p25. New Statesman. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  10. ^ "Equal opportunities impersonator who entertained a generation". The Irish Times. 19 November 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  11. ^ a b c "Emotional farewell to the voice of Folks on the Hill". Belfast Newsletter, Johnston Publishing Ltd. 17 November 2011.
  12. ^ a b Poole, A (14 November 2011). "Tributes flood in as impersonator Sean Crummey dies". Belfast Telegraph.
  13. ^ "Political satire pokes fun at our 'fools on the hill'". Belfast Telegraph. 18 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  14. ^ "The cast of Stormont launch their new comedy play". Newtownabbey Borough Council. 6 September 2010.
  15. ^ "Stormont at Theatre at the Mill". YouTube.
  16. ^ "Crumm' skit put me in a tricky spot". Gale Document Number: GALE A237983338. Sunday Life (Belfast), Independent News & Media Ltd. 26 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  17. ^ "Broadcaster's bravery mimic back after battle". Sunday Life (Belfast). 9 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  18. ^ Poole, A (14 November 2011). "Folks on the Hill star dies; First Minister leads tributes to the voice of satirical show". Belfast Telegraph. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  19. ^ "Tributes follow satirist Sean Crummey's death". 4ni-Northern Ireland on the Internet, Flagship Media Group Ltd. 14 November 2011.
  20. ^ "Perhaps it's ironic that The Folks on the Hill tribute show is going out on the first day of a New Year – a year which won't enjoy the humour and the talent of Sean Crummey to rely on". Sunday Life (Belfast). 18 December 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
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