Lally played the character Hugh in The Secret of Roan Inish, and in 1995 portrayed Dan Hogan in the film adaptation of Maeve Binchy's Circle of Friends. Other film roles included: Poitín, Our Boys, The Outcasts, A Man of No Importance and others. In later years, Lally provided the voice of Brother Aidan in the Academy Award-nominated The Secret of Kells – an animated film directed by Tomm Moore. Lally appeared in several TV advertisements encouraging elderly people to "release the equity tied up in their homes" during the Celtic Tiger. Personal life Lally was married to a nurse, Peige Ní Chonghaile, with whom he celebrated his 30th wedding anniversary the year before his death. They had three children: Saileog, Darach, and Maghnus. Lally was a fluent speaker of the Irish language, and his children studied in Irish-speaking schools (gaelscoileanna). He appeared in several Irish language productions throughout his career, from Poitín in 1978 to an appearance in the Irish language soap Ros na Rún in 2008. He was a supporter of socialist causes, and canvassed for Socialist Party candidate Joe Higgins in the 1996 Dublin West by-election and the 1997 general election. Lally was an atheist who did not believe in an afterlife, and regarded religion as nonsense and "codology". Death Lally died on the morning of 31 August 2010, after a short stay in hospital. The cause of death was reported as heart failure arising from an underlying emphysema condition. His death led to "widespread outpourings of sympathy". In addition to his wife and children, he was survived by his parents and six siblings. Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he was "shocked and saddened" by Lally's death, adding that he was "one of the most loved actors of his generation and will be dearly missed by the public and his colleagues in theatre and television". Minister for Culture Mary Hanafin and Michael D. Higgins TD, former Minister for Arts, Culture & Gaeltacht, also expressed condolences. Arts Council of Ireland chair Pat Moylan called it "a sad and shocking loss". Lally's onscreen wife in Glenroe, Mary McEvoy, said "Mick and I loved each other and we got on really well". Lally's funeral took place in Dublin on 2 September 2010. The Irish Examiner commented that the "nation has lost one of its favourite uncles". Personalities from TV, film, theatre, and politics attended, while President of Ireland Mary McAleese sent a