Mr Harris |
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Mr. Harris take the field Crowe
wrote it on a beer coaster in Dublin after a rugby match Australia
lost. Harris and Crowe had made plans to attend the game together,
but Harris died weeks earlier. As Crowe watched the game alone, he
figured Harris was indeed there and making Australia play badly. "Mr
Harris, take the field,'' the song says. "The 16th man.'' |
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In Crowe's
nest
By Nui Te Koha In sparser
contexts, Crowe is particularly brave. My Hand My Heart is a drinking
song with dark undercurrents. Mr Harris, written in memory of the actor,
Richard Harris, is a choral requiem.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=4104 The album
will feature a selection of songs the actor wrote and co-wrote, including
a choral piece written in Dublin on a beer coaster after the funeral
of his friend, actor Richard Harris.
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=867218&issue_id=8317 The Irish Independent: No crowing from Russell as Ireland out-wizard the Aussies - Neal Ellis 05.28.2003 ACTOR Russell
Crowe was among the thousands of rugby fans at Lansdowne Road on Saturday
to witness Ireland's historic victory over Australia.
Surrounded
by bodyguards, the star of 'Gladiator' showed no sign of being the angry
man of Hollywood, as he is often portrayed, as he took time out to sign
autographs as he left the ground on foot.
"I'm here
on behalf of Mr Harris," said the Australian star. "He wouldn't have
been disappointed. I think he would have enjoyed it very much. It was
a great game." Mr Crowe said that, having already visited the late Richard
Harris's home town of Limerick, his visit to Ireland was complete.
Some of his
countrymen were rather more despondent, however, and not just because
of the 18-9 result: meet the extended family of Australian Number 4
Owen Finegan. More than 100 of them - from all over Ireland, Scotland,
England and Australia - had come to the match only to see him taken
off after less than 20 minutes.
After the
game his mother, Josephine Finegan, who is originally from Bantry, Co
Cork, but has been living in Australia since she was a child, was waiting
to hear the news from the hospital. It wasn't good.
"His season
is over," announced her husband, who had just heard from St Vincent's
Private Hospital.
"There's
a huge crowd waiting to see him play against England next week and they'll
be disappointed now," said one of the group.
In the background
Irish fans sang 'Waltzing Matilda'. Even the Australians' most famous
song was no longer theirs to sing.
http://www.abc.net.au/enoughrope/stories/s921839.htm
Mondays 9:30pm ABC TV Episode 22 Russell Crowe August 11, 2003 Thirty odd-foot
of Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe:
Richard Harris had just died. I wanted to pay my respects.
I wanted to go to the funeral. And once I'd done that, you know, I was
kinda haunted by these conversations that we'd had where we were always
gonna do certain things together. We were gonna go to Limerick together
We were always gonna go to Lansdowne Road and watch a Rugby Union test
together. And, um… obviously, he inconveniently died and we never
got to do those things. So, um… You know, I did that. So I was
on a little bit of a strange, melancholy journey. I was going doing
things by myself which I was supposed to do with a very good friend
of mine. And, um, I wasn't really good company, I don't think. And,
um… You know, you tend, when you're tired and you're allowing
yourself to be emotional, they… they tend to be the moments in
life where you might say or do things that you regret later on.
http://www.murphsplace.com/crowe/mirror.html http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk Sunday Mirror November 10, 2002 THE GLADIATORS; RUSSELL SEES RUGBY CLASH TO HONOUR PLEDGE HE MADE TO DYING PAL HARRIS BYLINE: Nicola Tallant The Charlie
St; George in Limerick
HOLLYWOOD tough guy Russell Crowe honoured a promise he made to Richard Harris yesterday when he cheered on Australia at Lansdowne Road. The actor vowed he would travel to Ireland for the game over two months ago because rugby fanatic Harris believed it would be his last opportunity to see the Irish team play. As he battled against lymphatic cancer he called Crowe and challenged him to meet him in Dublin for the match and a final knees up. Harris passed away in a London hospital two weeks ago but Crowe told his family that he would make a wake out of the match. He even wore a wooly Ireland hat with his navy Kangaroo jacket to the game and attended the after match dinner with his native team. The actor
flew into Ireland on Tuesday to spend a week on the tiles in Harris'
favourite watering holes in Limerick and Dublin. He amazed drinkers
at Charlie's Bar in Limerick when he popped in for a few pints. With
his entourage he toasted Harris with the actor's family and friends
before making his way to Dublin.
There he
stayed in the plush pounds 600 a night Merrion Hotel but slipped out
on Friday night for a drink in Harris' favourite pub in the capital
- McDaids.
Crowe spoke
to Harris every day as the hellraiser lay on his death bed. The Gladiator
star spent hours on the phone to Harris who was so weak that nurses
had to cradle the receiver for him.
The pair
became so close after they starred in Gladiator, filmed four years ago,
that Crowe looked on Harris as a father. The actor who starred as Hogwarts
headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film, found a soul mate
in hard drinking, hard living Crowe.
Friends say
he treated the volatile Australian as a son and often remarked how he
often saw himself in the younger actor.
 "Richard
and Russell were soul mates. They had a very, very special relationship,"
a relative of Harris' said. "Richard loved him and offered him advice
on all sorts of things, including women. I suppose he just really thought
that Russell was just like him. "Russell
was very upset when Richard took bad. He was in Mexico shooting a film
so he couldn't fly to London to be with him. "Instead he took two hours
out every day from the movie to speak to him on the phone. He would
often be in tears. "Richard never thought he would die but in the last
fortnight I think he began to realise that he wasn't going to get any
better. "Russell couldn't deal with the fact that Richard was dying.
Richard did say goodbye to him."
Crowe flew
to London to bid his final farewell to Harris, then crossed the sea
to Ireland where he toasted his friend. The Irishman was laid to rest
on Monday at a private cremation in Mortlake, south west London after
he lost his battle with lymphatic cancer. His coffin draped in a tricolour
was carried out of the church by six pall -bearers including his sons
Damian, Jamie and Jared. Crowe later recited the poem Sanctity by Patrick
Kavanagh in his honour. Harris, who had a suite in the Savoy, often
returned to Ireland to see his favourite team, Young Munster, play
News
Russell Crowe fulfills Harris' Promise... Hollywood
hardman Russell Crowe fulfilled his promise to late Irish actor and
fellow Gladiator star Richard Harris by coming to Ireland
to watch an International Rugby match.
Crowe cheered
on his native Wallabies in an Irish woolly hat on Saturday afternoon
in Dublin's Lansdowne Road - but Harris' pride was
upheld by the lads in green as they beat the Aussies 18-9 in front of
54,000 cheering fans.
Crowe also
visited Harris' native Limerick last week - visiting numerous watering
holes frequented by the Irish legend. The double Oscar winner scribbled
an emotional tribute to Harris on a pub serviette which read:
"I
love Mr.Harris. I miss him deeply. I respect him because of his work,
I loved him because of his generosity and I am richer in my soul for
knowing him. I came to Ireland to fulfill a promise. That is what men
do for other men, dead or alive."
......
http://www.dublinks.com/index.cfm/loc/11-1/pt/0/spid/7058B41A-16F5-46FD-9675FACB9A719861.htm McDaids 28-May-2004 McDaid's is a classic pub and the old haunt of Brendan Behan. McDaid's is a classic, traditional Dublin pub situated on Harry Street just off Grafton Street and across from the Westbury Hotel. McDaid's has a distinctive Victorian exterior and when you step inside you find an old style bar with a high ceiling and a smattering of chairs and tables. The dimly lit bar has all the atmosphere of a classic Irish boozer, a secretive shrine to the art of convivial conversation and the latest gossip. McDaid's serve a fine selection of beers, their Guinness is second to none and their service is of the highest standards. McDaid's has proven to be very popular with tourist, students and discerning locals and is always packed to the rafters at the weekend. McDaid's has retained its character by not changing its essential design, its still looks pretty much the same as it was fifty years ago. There is no loud music, much bubbling conversation and a very friendly clientele.
McDaid's
played a part in Dublin's literary history as the local of playwright
and novelist, Brendan Behan. McDaid's became the centre of a new generation
of writers in the 1940s and 1950s who met in pubs in reaction to the
quaint lives of older Irish writers. McDaid's was also the one time
haunt of Patrick Kavanagh, Flann O'Brien, J.P. Donleavy and Liam O'Flaherty.
It is said that Behan based some of his characters in The Hostage and
Borstal Boy on publicans he met in McDaid's and Donleavy's main character
in The Ginger Man was supposed to be based on McDaid's regular, Ganor
Christ. So whether you want to soak up the atmosphere of old literary
Dublin or just have a soothing pint of plain, check out McDaid's on
Harry Street.
http://www.dublinpubscene.com/thepubs/mcdaids.html Saturday,
November 23rd, 2002
Elizabeth
Harris and children to attend Richard's Mass By EUGENE PHELAN
http://www.limerick-leader.ie/issues/20021116/sport02.html
Saturday, November 16th, 2002 Win over Aussies gives positive sign - By AIDAN CORR http://www.limerick-leader.ie/issues/20021109/index.html
Saturday, November 9th, 2002 In his own words, my pal Mr Harris by Russell Crowe - By EUGENE PHELAN Personal
memorial: the tribute on the tissue
OSCAR winning actor Russell Crowe arrived in Limerick this week "to fulfil" a promise he made to Richard Harris before he died in London. And he
spoke of his love and respect for Harris and how was visiting Ireland
and Limerick as a promise to the actor.
 Sipping
a pint of Guinness in Charlie St George's pub the actor was in great
form as in between our interview he signed autographs for anyone and
everyone.The clean
shaven, 38 year-old who was sporting a ponytail added:"I love Mr Harris.
I miss him deeply," he wrote on a paper handkerchief which he gave
me.
I respected him because of his work, I loved him because of his generosity and I am richer in my soul for knowing him," he added. "I came
to Ireland to fulfil a promise that is what men do for other men,
dead or alive."
He gave
me his piece of prose and as we read it together, he then, filled
his empty Guinness glass with half my pint and had a good laugh.
Later,
he brought his full pint and replenished my glass as he seemed to
be amused by my Limerick accent.
He laughed
off suggestions that he had a ferocious dislike for journalists. "Bullshit"
he remarked.
He was
extremely pleasant to everyone except photographers or indeed anyone
with a camera.
He patiently
signed autographs and insisted that all his signatures were signed
to individuals be they Mary, Jack or Jill.
Crowe got a kick out of answering my mobile phone as colleague Alan Jacques was ringing tipping me off that the actor was drinking in the city pub. "Eugene
is sitting right next to me, do you want to leave a message," he joked.
His minders
insisted no photographers be taken by anyone, to the point of being
paranoid.
Eventually
after six to eight photographers insisted on a picture, he agreed
to one, with everyone in the pub, which was pooled between everyone.
He then
rushed out the back door of the pub, into his limousine and off.
Crowe was
expected to head for Kilkee and other haunts frequented by the great
Limerick actor. On Saturday he is expected at the rugby match between
Ireland and Australia.
"Dad saw
himself in Russell - they were cut from the same cloth. And having
met him I agree" Harris's son, Jared said after the funeral this week.
Harris
said of Crowe: "Top bloke, loves his rugby, doesn't give a stuff,
brilliant actor, a much loved new friend. He will carry the baton
on. He irritates the hell out of the Hollywood bigwigs, but he's much
too good for them to ignore."
http://www.limerick-leader.ie/issues/20021102/index.html
Saturday, November 2nd, 2002 Limerick to hold Harris service - By EUGENE PHELAN http://www.limerick-leader.ie/issues/20021102/sport05.html
Saturday, November 2nd, 2002 Richard Harris: A sporting life - By MICHAEL O'FLAHERTY http://www.limerick-leader.ie/issues/20021102/news01.html
Saturday, November 2nd, 2002 Limerick memories of Richard Harris Thank
you for one shining moment - By JESSICA QUINN
Harris gets actor award - By LEADER REPORTER The growing pains of two Limerick titans - By LEADER REPORTER Family says memorial service in city planned - By LEADER REPORTER Secret city tour turned into unforgettable day - By DERMOT WALSHE Author Denis pays tribute - By LEADER REPORTER Long live King Richard - By IAIN DEMPSEY Earl's farewell to most loveable Limerickman - By KEITH WATTERSON By EUGENE PHELAN |
