By Dan Walsh
Last Friday night, in Redmond’s Loft, Bunclody Kilmyshall Drama Group launched its 2024-’25 season of plays, in the company of friends, performers, members past and present and sponsors.
At the launch, Chairman Rory Kinsella expressed his pride in the group having three shows in preparation, one of which was written by a group member. Ever the competitive sportsman, Rory wouldn’t hazard the odds of the two competing plays reaching their respective All Ireland finals!
Two one-act plays that will be performed in Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club from Sunday to Wednesday, October 13th-16th at 8pm nightly. One of the plays “Namaste” is penned by the group’s own Niall Ó Muirí and directed by the experienced Tommy Murphy. This is the second of Niall’s plays to be performed by the group. The cast is led by Borris man Billy Canning and local Tim Connaughton, who are joined by Róisín Barry, Keith McLoughlin and Sinéad O’Gorman.
The play features a conversation between a Bunclody man and his recently deceased father who comes back to tell him how he’d like his eulogy written. The often-hilarious play is written with Níall’s trademark humour and wit and is guaranteed to entertain audiences.
Completing the other side of the duo is “The Donahue Sisters” by Geraldine Aron, directed by Michael Dunbar and featuring Josephine Byrne, Margaret Farrell and Lisa McCann. This dream team competed on the One-Act Drama Circuit last winter with “Dead Man’s Bells” and qualified for the All-Ireland Finals in Castleblaney, finishing in third place. Not bad for a first outing!
This play also focuses on three sisters, who come together at their home during their father’s illness. The three sisters, while at home, reveal a family secret locked in the family attic from many years ago.
Following their performance in the Golf Club the ensemble will once again take to the roads, competing in the One Act Circuit throughout November, in the hopes of once again making the All-Ireland Finals, which will be held this year in Naas.
The group also launched its entry to the full-length drama circuit on Friday night. The play, “The Beacon” by Nancy Harris, and directed by Kieran Tyrrell will be performed in February. The play is set in the present day, featuring Harris’s characteristic drama, suspense and snappy dialogue. The play centres on Beiv, an artist who welcomes her son and his new American wife to her studio cottage on an island in West Cork.
The strong cast comprise of Elaine Jordan, former All Ireland Best Actress winner, Pádraig D’Arcy, also no stranger to the Athlone All Ireland stage, along with Justin Grimes, Maeve Ennis and Tim Connaughton. Having guided the group to numerous All Ireland Finals in the last decade, Tinahely native Kieran Tyrell is excited for the prospects of the new play (from a prominent TV script writer) being performed by such an experienced and able cast.
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