Frasier star Mahoney opens Galway Festival

FRASIER calls him dad, but actor John Mahoney left his fictional sons at home to open the Galway Arts Festival last night.

Mahoney, who plays Marty Crane, father of the manic psychiatrist and his brother Niels in the sitcom, officially opened the 25th festival in the Galway Bay hotel.

The TV favourite, who is an avid fan of the stage, is also starring in a play, The Drawer Boy, which is tipped to become one of this year's festival highlights.