Forget the Rat Pack: It’s all about the Irish ‘Pat Pack’

Four Irish acting powerhouses to star in 'At Swim-Two-Birds'

• Story / Farrell, Murphy, Byrne, Gleeson to star in 'At Swim-Two-Birds' / Click here

Hollywood cliques have been around for decades.

In the 50s, the Rat Pack, with ring leader Humphrey Bogart reigned as kings of the celebrity scene.

In the 60s, the more well-known version of the Rat Pack was formed. The legendary performance group was made up of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford, and claimed big-time celebrities like Shirley MacLaine and Marilyn Monroe as mascots.

Then in the 80s, the infamous Brat Pack came along. This group of successful, rich teen film stars, including Rob Lowe, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez and Demi Moore, were best known for their hard-partying ways.

In the 90s and 00s, we had the Frat Pack, the Hollywood actors like Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson who have appeared together in some of the most successful comedies of today.

But it’s time for the Rats, Brats and Frat boys to move over – because here comes the Pat Pack.

Since Irish acting heavyweights Colin Farrell, Gabriel Byrne, Brendan Gleeson and Cillian Murphy all signed on to bring Flann O’Brien’s classic novel “At Swim-Two-Birds” to the big screen, the group has been dubbed the “Pat Pack,” the Irish version of the Hollywood power-group.

Gleeson will make his directing debut with the long-awaited “At Swim-Two-Birds.” The novel , widely considered to be Irish writer O’Brien’s masterpiece, was first published in 1939, and focuses on a 19-year-old college student who’s fond of the drink. The young man writes a book, and thinks he sees its characters come to life.

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Nster.com