Philadelphia, Here I Come! 

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Gar O’Donnell is excited to be leaving home for a new life in America. Or so he says.

The night before he emigrates to America, Gareth O’Donnell begins to have second thoughts about leaving his home in the rural village of Ballybeg.

As part of the BBC’s effort to provide educational support in lockdown, we bring you GCSE English Literature set textEnglish Literature text ‘Philadelphia, Here I Come!’ by Brian Friel. Adapted for radio by the author and originally broadcast in 1984, here abridged in three parts for BBC Radio Ulster.

Fed up with the dreary round of life in Ballybeg, with his uncommunicative father and the humiliating job in his father's grocery shop, with his frustrated love for Kathy Doogan who married a richer, more successful young man and with the total absence of prospect and opportunity in his life at home, Gareth O'Donnell has accepted his aunt's invitation to come to Philadelphia. Now, on the eve of his departure, he is not happy to be leaving Ballybeg.

The Author
Born in County Tyrone, Brian Friel was a dramatist, short story writer and founder of the Field Day Theatre Company. A prolific writer, who produced more than 30 plays in a career spanning six decades, his best-known works include Faith Healer, Translations and Dancing at Lughnasa.

Storytellers: Philadelphia, Here I Come!

Philadelphia, Here I Come!

Northern Ireland's national station for local news, sport, weather, speech and music

Northern Ireland's national station for local news, live sport, weather, intelligent speech, great personalities and music to suit all tastes

1964 play by Brian Friel, adapted for radio by the author. Originally broadcast in 1984.

GCSE English Literature set text by Irish dramatist Brian Friel. This 1964 play was adapted for radio by the author and originally broadcast in 1984.

As part of the BBC’s effort to provide educational support in lockdown, we bring you GCSE English Literature text ‘Philadelphia, Here I Come!’ by Brian Friel. Adapted for radio by the author and originally broadcast in 1984, here abridged in three parts for BBC Radio Ulster.

Fed up with the dreary round of life in Ballybeg, with his uncommunicative father and the humiliating job in his father's grocery shop, with his frustrated love for Kathy Doogan who married a richer, more successful young man and with the total absence of prospect and opportunity in his life at home, Gareth O'Donnell has accepted his aunt's invitation to come to Philadelphia. Now, on the eve of his departure, he is not happy to be leaving Ballybeg.

The Author
Born in County Tyrone, Brian Friel was a dramatist, short story writer and founder of the Field Day Theatre Company. A prolific writer, who produced more than 30 plays in a career spanning six decades, his best-known works include Faith Healer, Translations and Dancing at Lughnasa. 


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