The Auditions were held back in July ’09 in Sheriff St Community Centre D.1. I had auditioned for the part of a hardened Dublin criminal but I guess didn’t look the part, but I was offered the role of a Police Sargent responding to an Emergency Call that a child  has been shot. I got to drive a squad car through the streets of Dublin and sure the girls love a man in uniform. Photo: Michael Hussey YoughalOnline.com

My scenes were shot in Sept ’09 in Liberty Flats, Railway St, near Connolly Station. The residents were very helpful and had a refreshing lack of pretentiousness about them, and were well used to movies being filmed there, as  parts of ‘’In the Name of the Father ‘’were filmed in Sherriff St  and ‘’Veronica Guerin’’in Liberty Flats. Liberty Flats are due for demolition and reconstruction, so I doubt that there will be many more films made there. Although with the recession it might be delayed.
I was driving out of Dublin by Newlands Cross the day Veronica Guerin was  murdered, it was very disturbing to see her car stopped  on the dual carriageway heading into Dublin, with the windscreen and side windows covered, I imagine waiting for forensics to arrive. It was a chilling experience which I will never forget.

‘’ Between the Canals ‘’ follows three small time criminals from Dublin’s North Inner City as they each aspire to be somebody in a fast changing society. Liam a small time dealer, who wants to quit his life of crime to become an electrican and provide for his girlfriend and young son. Dots, a crazy, irresponsible thug with ambitions to become a big time dealer and Scratchcard, a drug user with no ambitions but to stay on social welfare and watch the world go by. A heartbreaking and occasionally hilarious story of loyalty, duty and masculinity, ‘’ Between the Canals is a true find.

‘’No matter how small or big the part, I’am getting to do what I always wanted to do’’  ‘’And if you get to do that in life,  it’s everything  I believe ‘’ said Jay. ‘’ In this movie I play the part of a high status character, so its easier to make a big impact in my scenes than if I was playing the part of a low statues character’’ Jay added. Jay also works as a self employed  Life, Pensions and Mortgage Broker being my own boss gives me the flexibility I need to do go and do auditions and acting classes one night a week. My thanks to retired Sgt Jack Gains, Garda Dave Leahy and Gardai in Store St  Dublin, who helped me prepared for my short but dramatic scenes.

Who;      Youghal Actor Jay Flavin
Where ;  The Jameson Dublin Film Festival 18th to 28th Feb
What;     Plays the part of a Police Sargent in ‘’ Between the Canals ‘’
Why;     Something I’ve always wanted to do ‘’ A bit of Acting ‘’.
When ;  Screening on Sunday Feb 21st at 8.40pm in Cineworld, Parnell St. D.1

Contact;   Jay  Flavin  087 8128236

” The House ” is broadcast on Dublin Community Television and is available on cable only in Dublin or online at www.dctv.ie  its about dodgy bankers, repossessions, and nasty newspaper editors.The series is produced by Billy Tyson, who lived and went to school in Youghal from 1975 to 1980, his parents had the Walter Raleigh Hotel during that period and continue to be regular visitors to see their cousins, the Kirwans.
By Youghalonline arts reporter / Photo: Michael Hussey Email: news@youghalonline.com

The show is directed by Declan Cassidy, who’s multi award winning short film ”Whatever Turns You on ” won the 2009 Aspen Film Festival for best short film. Local actor Jay Flavin plays the part of a sub editor in a national newspaper. Jay said ” he was delighted to get the part, as acting is something i always wanted to do.

When i was a kid, my father used to point out Cork actors to me on the television, one in particular stands out, Derry Power because he was from Youghal, his brother Kevin had  a pub in the town called the Blackwater Inn now known as  Maggie Mays. I started doing night classes in Oct ’04 with Shane Munro’s Irish Film Actors Workshop, then classes with the Gaeity School of Acting in Cork and now with Snatch Comedy Improvisation in Cork.

There’s a film making course in St John’s College in Cork, and the students are always looking for actors to volunteer their time to make short films. I then got a part as a doctor in ” Point of Departure ” written and directed by Max le Cain from the Cork Film Centre, which won the RTE best short film script in 2007, and will be broadcast in the near future.

The film starred Tony Award Winner Anna Manahan as an institutionalised person with severe memory problems. Jay who also works as a Life, Pensions and Mortgage broker in Youghal said ” i haven’t done any theatre in Youghal because i’m out seeing clients about three nights a week and this is when theatre is usual rehearsed.

My father was an actor with Youghal Little Theatre and i have uncles and cousins who love acting too. I’m delighted to get parts no matter how small, because i believe no opportunity to do what i always wanted to do should be squandered. I  got another small role in TG 4 documentary in july ’09 in a series called Éalu 2 meaning Breakout a documentary about famous jail breaks in Ireland, which will be broadcast in 2010. Before i got involved in acting i thought it might be a bit glamorous, but now i see, its an industry like any other industry and a workplace like any other workplace.

Contact; Jay Flavin   087 8128236

Amnesty International applauds as Cork City is declared a ‘Rendition-Free Zone

Amnesty International congratulates Cork City councillors and the people of Cork as a motion declaring Cork City a ‘Rendition-Free Zone’ is passed by a majority at Cork City Hall.

While there is no evidence that Cork airport has facilitated the US government’s renditions programme as part of the ‘war on terror’, this motion holds immense symbolic value and shows Cork City Council’s solidarity with the victims of this illegal programme.

Last year Derry City Council became the first local authority on the island of Ireland to declare its local airport free of rendition flights.
The adoption of this motion shows that the people of Cork City and their representatives are prepared to stand up for human rights. I congratulate the people of Cork for Read more

Photo: Michael Hussey ( YoughalOnline.com)

Maria Guilly, Walter Raleigh Hotel & Jay Flavin Amnesty International, Cork

The Walter Raleigh Hotel is hosting an Amnesty International Petition For TIBET.
Concerned citizens are requested to call in and sign the Petition outlining Amnesty concerns about the protection of Human Rights in China.

If you would like to help or host a Read more