St Patrick Centre Hosts Patrick Kielty Interview By Gerry Kelly
Patrick Kielty talked about his life, his loves and his passion for Northern ireland on Wednesday night when he was interviewed by Gerry Kelly at the Saint Patrick Centre to a full house.
The event, which was part of the Centre’s Spring ‘In Conversation’ series and sponsored by CosyRoof, revealed the TV presenter and comedians thoughts on fatherhood, Brexit and the Peace Process said Dr Tim Campbell, Director of the St Patrick Centre.
Reflecting on his childhood and education in Downpatrick, Patrick recalled the terrible news of the killing of his father in January 1988 and how looking back it seemed odd that there was one bus for one community to go to school and another for the other.
Patrick said in the Gerry Kelly interview: “Brexit really was a wake-up call for me”. He also outlined his determination to find common ground between the communities, adding “weird and wonderful things happen when you decide to share.”
Patrick also described how he had jumped on a plane after a late night telephone call to his now-wife Cat Deely and surprised her the next day in Los Angeles for her Birthday Lunch. He said: “The Taxi Driver from the airport in Los Angeles turned to me and said ‘Do you want me to wait for you?’ “.
Even after almost ten years of marriage he said he couldn’t believe his luck and joked that being on the red carpet with his wife, who is so successful in America, sometimes makes people think he is someone sponsored by a charity tagging along.
Dr Campbell added: “The Saint Patrick’s Choral Society, who are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year, sang at the sold-out event… their first public engagement in over two years.
“Eva Rowan, a pupil of St Patrick’s Grammar School in Downpatrick, who has had just won the BBC School Young Soloist of the Year award, gave three solo performances as part of the evening’s entertainment.
“The next in the series of events is a conversation on 21st April with Richard Moore, who was blinded by a rubber bullet in 1972 by the British army in Derry.
“Having forgiven and befriended Charles, the soldier who shot him he was been celebrated world-wide as a peace maker by the like of the Dalai Lama and is often described as the ‘Derry Lama’.”
Charles will also be part of the Conversation by videolink.
Tickets are available now at the Saint Patrick Centre including wine reception.
