Grounded Cillian won’t act up, says dad
CILLIAN MURPHY’S father won’t be entertaining any notions after his son was nominated for an Oscar, saying he ‘has a job like other sons and daughters’ around the country.
The Cork star appears to be the frontrunner for the Best Actor award at the upcoming Oscars for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Robert Oppenheimer in the Christopher Nolan blockbuster.
The 47-year-old’s role as the father of the atomic bomb has already landed him a Golden Globe, and he could become Ireland’s second winner of the prestigious Best Actor Oscar after Daniel Day-Lewis.
But despite his achievements, the actor’s father, Breandán Ó Murchú, insists there won’t be ‘too much fuss’ in their home.
He said: ‘We brought him into the world and we did our best, but we don’t see at all that we had a hand in the work that he’s doing at present. But we’re not going to lose our wits and neither is he.
‘We don’t like to make too much fuss about him, he’s got a job like the sons and daughters of other people and the difference is he gets a lot of publicity. At the same time, we’re so happy for him and pleased.
‘There are so many things happening in the world, that we should be sensible about these things and that’s what he’s saying himself as well,’ Mr Ó Murchú told An Saol Ó Dheas on Raidió na Gaeltachta. ‘We’re very pleased with him and very happy that he’s getting on so well.’
Cillian previously revealed that he was at home with his parents when he got word of the nomination. Mr Ó Murchú said: ‘We were all here, there are four of us and each is as important to us as the other. ‘We were all together and we had a cup of tea and the story came and we were delighted.’ With the ceremony being held in Los Angeles, Breandán admitted that he and his wife will probably not be able to make the ceremony — but will head to the BAFTAs, where he’s also nominated, in England. ‘We will go there as it’s closer to home and when he comes home from the Oscars, we will make him a cake,’ he revealed.
Dillon said: ‘I think possibly.’
Most of the former RTÉ executive have now either retired early or stepped down following a series of controversies which erupted last summer, beginning with the revelation that RTÉ’s former highest paid presenter Ryan Tubridy was paid €345,000 more than publicly disclosed over a period of six years. Imelda Munster, a member of both the Media Committee and PAC, said: ‘Overall responsibility sits with the executive board, but equally the non-executive board has to take responsibility here. If they either allowed things to come to them after the deed was done, there’s a whole wad of responsibility on their shoulders too... There was a total lack of control at board level. I don’t know if anyone would dispute it, the executive were a law unto themselves. That’s not to say that there aren’t others on the executive board who have yet to be taken to task.’ She added: ‘Listening to them and observing them, the executive board in particular, lived in their own bubble and the Toy Show was another example of that. No market research, no proper business plan. Didn’t give a hoot, just go ahead with it.’
The report noted there was a meeting of the executive board, which comprises senior management at RTÉ, on March 1 to discuss the project.
It noted contributions from some individuals on the board about the musical. The report author goes on to state: ‘From my meetings with executive board and board members of RTÉ, I note that the majority of these respective members were not aware of these industry norm rates and have little or no memory of them being discussed at any of the meetings they attended.’ It was also noted the executive were to send the project to RTÉ’s audit and risk committee (ARC). However, the report said: ‘I have found no evidence that TSTM [The Musical] was ever brought to the ARC for review.’
PAC chair Mr Stanley said that the minister ‘needs to look at the make up of the whole board’.
On witnesses being called before the PAC, he said: ‘Rory Coveney’s appearance would certainly be required in my opinion.’
On Mr Lynch, he said: ‘Oh yes, certainly. He was head of marketing at that stage.’
Asked whether Mr Lynch accepted any responsibility for the musical, a spokesman for RTÉ said there was ‘no further comment’ beyond the findings of the report. He also declined to provide the salary of Mr Lynch.
Mr Stanley also said that Dee Forbes and Geraldine O’Leary, the former commercial director, should appear before the committee.
Ms Forbes has not contributed at all to any of the inquiries or committees since the scandal broke last year and did not contribute to the report.
Senior Government figures said they are ‘shocked’ at the findings of the report, describing them as ‘pretty serious’.
Media Minister Catherine Martin is expected to comment on the report this morning.
‘Look at make up of whole board’