Hats off to the Big Knit 2023
Father Ted actor Patrick Mcdonnell has said it was a“no brainer” teaming up with The innocent Big Knit 2023, having seen how important the annual campaign is and the work of Age Action
Ireland.
Mcdonnell, who played Eoin Mclove in the much-loved Irish comedy and was known for his love of jumpers, told how he was the perfect fit for the campaign, which aims to give older people a better quality of life.
Mcdonnell says,“i was delighted to be involved in the innocent Big Knit this year. I’ve played many characters over the years but many Irish people still know me for my famous knitted jumpers so this campaign was right up my street.”
Celebrating its 13th year, The Big Knit is continuing to work with Age Action, Ireland’s leading advocacy organisation for older people and ageing, who have led the way in informing and influencing policy as well as providing practical programmes to support older people and empower them to live independently.
Age Action offer care and repair services, carrying out minor repairs for older people free of charge, information services around issues facing older people and computer training to combat digital exclusion.
Mcdonnell adds,“we’re an ageing population so we’re going to need all the support we can get going into the future.
“And… as a people, we’ve come through an awful lot in recent years, especially with the pandemic, there was an awful lot of isolation so older people need all the help they can get.”
As an ambassador for the Big Knit, Mcdonnell is only too aware of how important campaigns like this are but the 54-year-old has also seen first-hand how vital the work of Age Action is.
“I remember my father-in-law, he died
“it WAS ALSO A GREAT SHOW, it HAS A GREAT LEGACY...”
comedy scene, but there’s one project he was involved in that really stands out for him, as he told Chic,“the best thing for me was The Savage Eye”— the satirical David Mcsavage show which began on RTE in 2009 and saw comedians and actors like Mcsavage, Patrick and John Colleary create comedy sketches based on subjects close to the hearts of the Irish people.
Mcdonnell adds,“because I was in it — but also myself and a few of the other lads… also wrote sketches for it so that was very fulfilling.
“It was also a great show, it has a great legacy — sketches are still doing the rounds on social media so that’s the one I’m really proud of because I was in it but also wrote for it.
“And we also got to make fun of things — it was kind of very satirical and we got to lampoon a lot of institutions that couldn’t be lampooned a lot before that.
That was very satisfying.”
As for his plans for the future, the famously funny star adds,“career goals now are paying the bills — electricity and the gas, at the rate it’s going!
“But at the minute I have my own gigs coming up, on the 19th of February I am playing the Bray Comedy Festival.
“And next month, myself and three other lads from Father Ted are going to be at the Comic Con Festival in Dublin (March 11 and 12).
“We’re going to be signing autographs and doing selfies and talking s**t.” ■
You can join innocent’s Big Knit by grabbing an innocent smoothie with a little woolly hat on it. innocent drinks country manager Keith Nelson says, “The innocent Big Knit is always the most rewarding initiative we work on throughout the year.
“Being able to witness first hand the work of Age Action and the impact the organisation makes year-on-year makes this partnership so special. innocent is proud to support them.
“Older people really do make up the heart of our families and communities so it’s important for us to celebrate and nourish that.”
See www.innocentdrinks.ie/big-knit for more.