Local Notes: Marist caretaker retires, drama postponed and recent deaths
Moore & Clonfad Drama Society cast and director of 'Separate Beds' by Sam Cree. Seated from left: Aoife Hibbitt (Madge Wirsall); Finola O’Brien (Clare Marshall); Nuala Murray (Ivy); Bernie Greene (Sarah Rea); Sharon D’Arcy (Judy Marshall). Standing from left: Ben Halpin (Bengy); Tom Costello (Arthur Marshall); Liam Curley (Director); Oliver Grenham (Alan Rea); Padraic Egan (Rev. Matthew Gribble); Niall Flynn (Andy Crawford).
Moore & Clonfad Drama Society are back on stage for one-night only with their hilarious production of ‘Separate Beds’, by Sam Cree in Moore Hall (N37HT68) on Sunday, April 27th at 7 p.m..
Firstly the group want to thank the huge audiences that showed up for their recent three-night run of ‘Separate Beds’. The response of the audience was invariably that they had never laughed so much at all the side-splitting antics on stage and the thoroughly enjoyable performances from everyone in the cast.
Following an amazing three-night run and by popular demand the group will take to the stage again on April 27th for one last performance of this hilarious play.
The play centres on the Marshall household headed up by Arthur played by Tom Costello, who is dealing with all kinds of mayhem just days before his daughter’s wedding. New to the stage with the group this year is Nuala Murray playing the hapless housekeeper, Ivy, who freely helps herself to the odd sip of Arthur’s precious whiskey. Throw in Andy, a painter taking a long time to finish some painting before the wedding day, but who has his own distractions to deal with, played by the great comedy actor Niall Flynn. Add in the next-door neighbour, Madge who has her sights firmly set on Arthur, played superbly by Aoife Hibbitt. As if that’s not enough enter the ex-wife, Claire, brilliantly portrayed by Finola O’Brien, who arrives home for the wedding of her daughter, but appears to have Arthur in her sights too. The main event brings together the happy couple, groom, Alan, played by Oliver Grenham, returning to the group after a short break, and his bride, Judy, played by Sharon D’arcy making her stage debut with the group for this production. The Groom’s mother, Sarah, is played perfectly by Bernie Greene a stalwart of the group at this stage. Throw in the doddery Reverand Gribble, called in to carry out the nuptials, but is quite confused about why he is there at all, played with great aplomb by the well-known actor Padraic Egan. The group is delighted that Ben Halpin was able to join them again this year playing Bengy, the farm manager.
As always, this production keeps with the traditional genre of this group which is pure comedy - plenty of laughs and no shortage of madness and mayhem as the wedding day unfolds. The group is so thankful to again welcome Mr Liam Curley, Creagh as the director for this production. As ever his excellent direction will bring every gag to life with loads of laughs extracted from every line as the story unfolds.
This event is for charity and the group is delighted to support three charities from this performance— the Irish Children’s Pilgrimage Trust (ICPT); Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (INDMA) and the East Galway and Midlands Cancer Support.
Curtain is at 7 p.m. sharp on April 27th April.
Liam Fallon, Eskerbane, Brideswell, was the recipient of a series of presentations at the Marist College, Athlone, on Friday, April 11th, on his retirement from the post of caretaker at the school after 35 years of service. He took up the post in 1990 after working for a number of years at the building scene in Dublin. In his role as caretaker he had overall responsibility for general maintenance.
The Taughmaconnell Drama Group has decided to postpone the staging of the three act comedy "The Maiden Aunt" until the Autumn. The three act comedy, penned by Jimmy Keary and directed by Liam Curley, Creagh, was originally scheduled to be staged in Taughmaconnell Communty Centre this coming weekend, April 25th-27th.
The recent MS collection taken up at Masses in Kiltoom and Curraghboy realised €497.85 at the Church of the Risen Christ, Kiltoom, and €366.93 at St Brigid's Church, Curraghboy. Thanks to all those who contributed or assisted in any way with the collection.
The death took place on Friday, April 4th, at University College Hospital, Galway, of Mrs Margaret Mongan, Turpane Beg, Ballyforan. Aged 60, she was the former Ms Margaret Stokes and she had been in ill health for some time. The deceased was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and she enjoyed the respect and esteem of all those with whom she became acquainted. She is survived by her husband, Patrick; son, Patrick and daughters, Bridget, Mary, Bernie and Anne. She is also survived by grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at the Church of Christ the Good Shepherd, Four Roads, on Wednesday, April 9th, the burial took place at St Coman's Cemetery, Roscommon.
The death took place on Sunday, April 6th, at her residence of Mrs Kitty Naughton, Johnstown, Cornafulla, Athlone. In her 93rd year, the deceased was a member of a very well-known South Roscommon farming family. The former Ms Kitty Fallon, Carrantarriff, Dysart, she was an employee of the Royal Hotel in Athlone, for a number of years prior to marriage and she was deservedly popular with her work colleagues and all those with whom she became acquainted. Devoted to her immediate and extended family, she was noted for performing neighbourly deeds and kind acts in her residential catchment with typical self-effacement. A lifelong PTAA member, she supported a number of community and church linked activities over the decades. An avid sports enthusiast, she was a follower of Gaelic games in particular and was a supporter of all Clann na nGael and Roscommon GAA teams. She was also a promoter of the Clann na nGael GAA Club weekly lotto. An accomplished card player, she played progressive 25 a number of nights weekly. A religious person, she was a regular visitor up until recent years to Knock Shrine and she had also visited Lourdes and supported a number of charitable causes and bequests down the years. Predeceased by her husband, John, in May 1998, she is survived by sons, Padraig, Sean, Thomas and Seamus, (all Johnstown) and daughters, Mrs Marie Brady, Johnstown; Mrs Annette Culleton, Johnstown and Mrs Carol O'Neill, Caltra, East Galway. A member of a family of seven, she is survived by one sister, Mrs Teresa Mannion, Kilkerrin, Galway; 21 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Concelebrated Mass on Wednesday, April 9th, at St Brigid's Church, Drum, the burial took place in Drum Cemetery. The celebrants of the Mass were Rev. Fr Josef, CC, Drum; Very Rev. John Deignan, PP, St Peter's, Athlone and Rev. Raymond Browne, CC, Kilkerrin. They were assisted by Deacon Tony Larkin, St Peter's, Athlone and Deacon William Gacquin, Curraghboy.
The death took place suddenly recently at a private nursing home in Swindon, England, of Mrs Catherine Darragh, Swindon, who was the former Ms Catherine Harney, Carrowreagh, Taughmaconnell. Aged 89 in January last, she emigrated to Britain in her early twenties and she had resided in Swindon in family setting for a number of decades. She was a frequent visitor to her extended family members and friends in Taughmaconnell Parish over the years. A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she was also noted for her sense of neighbourliness in her residential catchment. She was a weekly bingo enthusiast and she also enjoyed reading as a hobby. Predeceased two years by her husband, Gerry, a native of Antrim, she is survived by one son, Gerry, and daughters Patricia, Angela and Rosie. She is also survived by brothers, Tommy, Carrowreagh; Peter, Edenderry; sisters, Mrs Lily Mannion, Castlesampson, Taughmaconnell; Mrs Eileen Darragh, Swindon, six grandchildren and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at St Mary's Church, Swindon, on Thursday, April 10th, the burial took place in Swindon.
The death took place at Swindon General Hospital, England, on Sunday, March 16th, of Mrs Margaret McMullan, Swindon, who was the former Ms Margaret Harney, Carrowreagh, Taughmaconnell. Aged 85 in December last, she had been in ill health a short time. The deceased had resided in family setting in Swindon for over 60 years. Devoted to her immediate and extended family, she was a frequent visitor to her extended family members and friends in Taughmaconnell Parish over the decades. She enjoyed bingo playing, reading and completing crossword puzzles as her main hobbies. Predeceased a number of years by her husband, Tommy, a native of Antrim, she is survived by daughters, Mary, Susan and Helen. She is also survived by brothers,Tommy, Carrowreagh; Peter, Edenderry; sisters, Mrs Lily Mannion, Castlesampson; Mrs Eileen Darragh, Swindon; six grandchildren, one great grandchild and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at St Mary's Church, Swindon, on Friday, April 11th, the burial took place in Swindon.
The winners of the weekly progressive 25 card drive at the St Brigid's Handball Complex in Curraghboy on Tuesday night last were Johnny Cormican, Donie Brennan, Liam Fallon, Mrs Marian Kelly, Gerry Menton, David Connaughton, Mrs Marian Grehan, Mrs Eithne Leonard, Enda McHugh and Eamon Ward.
