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St Patrick's Day treat for Simpsons fans St Patrick's Day treat for Simpsons fans
(about 12 hours later)
The Simpsons are on their way to Dublin for a St Patrick's Day specialFans of The Simpsons are in for a special St Patrick's Day treat on Tuesday when an episode of the hit cartoon series will be premiered on this side of the Atlantic. The Simpsons have travelled to Dublin for a St Patrick's Day special
It will be shown on Sky1 ahead of its broadcast on US network Fox for the first time in the show's 20-year history. Fans of The Simpsons have been treated to a St Patrick's Day episode of the hit cartoon series.
The episode, called In the Name of the Grandfather, will show the cartoon family travelling to Ireland and visiting famous landmarks including the Guinness brewery, with Homer and his father eventually buying a pub. It was shown on Sky1 ahead of its broadcast on US network Fox, the first time an episode has premiered on this side of the Atlantic in the show's 20-year history.
It has been reported that the landlord of the pub will be played by Belfast-born actor Kenneth Branagh. The episode, called In the Name of the Grandfather, shows the cartoon family making the journey from Springfield to Ireland on a Derry Air plane.
Also said to be making an appearance - as buskers on Grafton Street in Dublin - are Oscar winners Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who appeared in the surprise hit Irish film Once. Marge and the children visit famous landmarks including the Giant's Causeway, the Blarney Stone and Guinness brewery, while Homer and his father end up buying a pub.
The Simpsons' executive producers, Al Jean and James L Brooks, and Nancy Cartwright, who voices Bart and other characters, will travel to Ireland for an exclusive screening of the episode. Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart, was a guest of honour at the Dublin paradeThe landlord of the pub is played by Colm Meaney, while there are also cameo roles for Oscar winners Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová of the surprise hit Irish film Once.
The Simpsons' executive producers, Al Jean and James L Brooks, and Nancy Cartwright, who voices Bart and other characters, travelled to Ireland for an exclusive screening of the episode.
"Homer and Grandpa get drunk," said Al Jean."Homer and Grandpa get drunk," said Al Jean.
"They buy the bar and then they find, as it turns out, in Ireland, pubs aren't so popular anymore because you can't smoke in them. So they're really up a creek.""They buy the bar and then they find, as it turns out, in Ireland, pubs aren't so popular anymore because you can't smoke in them. So they're really up a creek."
As the Simpsons come to terms with the new hi-tech Ireland - home to Hewlett Fitzpackard and Mickrosoft - the bar struggles to attract customers, leading Homer to lament that "the Irish have become hard-working and sober".
Irish characters have regularly featured in The Simpsons.Irish characters have regularly featured in The Simpsons.
A whole episode was devoted to U2, but the most controversial was an episode set on St Patrick's Day when celebrations in Springfield turned nasty as an Irish parade encountered an Orange march.A whole episode was devoted to U2, but the most controversial was an episode set on St Patrick's Day when celebrations in Springfield turned nasty as an Irish parade encountered an Orange march.