Local Notes: Final Showing of Play, Mobile Library, Marriage
Cast and director of Widows' Paradise. Standing from left: Darragh O’Sullivan, Ben Halpin, Niall Flynn, Tom Costello, Padraic Egan, Ollie Grenham. Seated from left: Jessica O’Brien, Finola O’Brien, Liam Curley (director), Bernie Greene, Nuala Murray, Chrissie Kelly.
Moore & Clonfad Drama Society are delighted to perform one final performance of their hilarious play ‘Widows’ Paradise’ in Moore Community Hall (N37HT68) on Saturday, May 23rd at 8 p.m.
The group would like to take this opportunity to thank the incredible audiences that showed up for their recent three-night run of Widows’ Paradise. Reports from the hundreds of people that showed up commented that they had never enjoyed a play so much. The hilarious antics on stage generated ‘side-splitting’ laughs with comments that the performances from everyone in the cast was excellent.
Many who could not make it and having heard the good reports were keen to see if there would be another performance. So, you might say, by very popular demand, the group will take to the stage again on Saturday, May 23rd for one final performance of this hilarious play. Be warned you may suffer a pain in your jaw or a stitch in your side from laughing so much.
As always, the group would like to thank all those from the community who helped to enhance the experience of our audiences with parking and refreshments.
Widows’ Paradise, is a farcical comedy which begins with five ladies arriving at a caravan with plans for an enjoyable weekend away from the ordinary but most importantly away from men.
Leading the ladies is Ruby, played by Chrissie Kelly, who is determined that her daughter Sylvia, played by Jessica O’ Brien, does not make the same mistakes she has in the past when it comes to men. Joining Ruby and Sylvia on the trip is Rachel, played by Nuala Murray, and Vanessa, played by Bernie Greene, who both have their own stories of love and disappointment and have sworn off men while Lucy, played by Finola O’Brien, ‘a special case’ and still holding out for her ‘happy ever after’. Of course, the weekend does not go as planned with the arrival of three men, back from a fishing trip to their own caravan to find it now has five ladies in situ. The fishermen are led by Harry, played by Tom Costello, who is about as fond of women as Ruby is of men. Alongside Harry is his son Alan, played by Darragh O’Sullivan, who might prefer other activities rather than fishing and brother-in-law Ernie, played by Niall Flynn, who has no experience with women but still lives in hope.
You may think that this is enough chaos for one caravan, but it doesn’t end there. Enter Wilfred, played by Paraic Egan, who needs shelter for the night, and to his great surprise runs into a familiar face from his past. While all of that is unfolding, we then meet Mr John McGonigal, played by Ollie Grenham, a rich widowed farmer who is open to marrying again but comes with a bit of baggage. Finally, we have an angry bus driver, played superbly by Ben Halpin, who drove the ladies to the caravan but is not happy with what they left behind them on the bus and equally angry about stray livestock wandering into his farm.
This production keeps with the traditional genre of this group which is pure comedy - plenty of laughs and no shortage of madness and mayhem on stage.
The group is again delighted to have Mr Liam Curley, as the director for this production. As ever his excellent direction brings every gag to life with loads of laughs extracted from every line as the story unfolds.
Alongside the many stalwarts, the group is delighted to welcome two new talented young actors making their debut in this production, Jessica O’Brien and Darragh O’Sullivan.
Curtain is at 8 p.m. sharp May 23rd. Tickets on the door. As always, you’re advised to, get there early to avoid missing out on this last and final production of Widows’ Paradise the hilarious comedy by Moore and Clonfad Drama Society.
The marriage took place on Saturday, May 2nd at St Patrick's Church, Dysart, between Michael Carty, second son of John and Christina Carty, Milltown, Dysart, and Eimer Lennon, only daughter of Gerard and Angela Lennon, Ballyglass, Dysart. The bride was given away by her father. The ceremony with Nuptial Mass was performed by Very Rev. Francis Beirne, PP, Ballyforan, Dysart and Tisrara. The bestman was Eoin Carty, brother of the groom and the groomsmen were Cathal Meares, friend of the groom, Stephen Daly, also friend of the groom, and Mark Lennon, brother of the bride. The bridesmaids were Annie Daly, Ciara McIntyre and Linda Carty, all friends of the bride, and Tina Carty, sister of the groom. The lessons were read by Malachy Hand, friend of the bride and groom, and Lorraine Feeney Carty, sister-in-law of the groom. The pageboys were Jack Carty and Shay Carty, both nephews of the groom. Hymns with musical accompaniment were rendered by Sinead Walshe. The reception was held at the Hodson Bay Hotel.
There will be Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St Brigid's Church, Curraghboy, on this Friday, May 22nd, at 7 p.m..
Roscommon SPCA will be holding its annual church gate collection at St. Patrick's Church, Dysart on Saturday, May 23rd and the Church of Our Lady of The Wayside, Clonown on Sunday, May 24th. Roscommon SPCA is run by a team of dedicated volunteers with all money donated going directly towards animal welfare in the county.
The winners of the weekly progressive 25 card drive at the St Brigid's Handball Complex in Curraghboy on Tuesday night last were Kevin Donnelly, Mrs Eithne Leonard, John McHugh, Donie Brennan, Mrs Mary Doyle, Mrs Emer Coyle, Michael Doyle, Mrs Marian Kelly, Mrs Patricia Staunton and Mark Doyle.
Former Minister for Communications, Drum native, Denis Naughten, was recently appointed as a strategic advisor to Red Flag, a public affairs communications consultancy with offices in Dublin, London, Brussels, Washington and Cape Town, South Africa. Mr Naughten, who served both as a Fine Gael and Independent Dail Deputy for Roscommon for over 20 years, will work in the Dublin office and engage in travel mainly to Brussels. Red Flag was founded in 2013 and is Dublin headquartered. It was sold last year to the Ankura Consulting Group which is a New York based global management consulting firm. Mr Naughten is part of a team of more than 2,500 consultants across Ankura working in 55 countries across the globe. Former Independent TD for Kildare South, Cathal Berry, was appointed last week as director of public affairs with Red Flag. Mr Naughten is a native of Ardkeenan, Drum, and a past pupil of Ardkeenan National School and St Aloysius College, Athlone. He holds a B. Sc degree from University College, Dublin and an M Sc from Dublin City University. He served as a member of Roscommon County Council in the Athlone electoral area and was also elected to Seanad Eireann for a short time prior to being elected to Dail Eireann. He is also a managing director of Innosphere Consultancy, a company established by him following his decision to retire from the political scene. He late father, Liam Naughten was Cathaoirleach of the Seanad when he sustained fatal injuries in a two vehicle road accident on the then main Athlone to Ballinasloe road on November 16th, 1996. He was a long serving Fine Gael member of Roscommon County Council and had also served in Dail Eireann for a number of years as a Fine Gael TD for Roscommon. Both Liam Naughten and Denis Naughten were also serving members of the now defunct Western Health Board.
The Roscommon Mobile Library service will visit Monksland on Thursday, May 21st, from 1 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.. Library membership is free.
Mrs Carmel Nally, Ballybay, Kiltoom, has been bereaved by the death of her brother, Gerry Mullin, Ballygologue Park, Listowel, County Kerry, which took place at University Hospital, Kerry, on April 30th last. Aged 74, deceased was a native of Bastion Street, Athlone and had resided in Listowel for over 40 years. He had been in ill health for some time and he bore his illness with characteristic fortitude. The deceased was attached to the fire brigade service in Listowel for 26 years prior to his retirement and he was held in high esteem by his colleagues and all those who made his acquaintance. Devoted to his immediate and extended family, he was noted for his sense of neighbourliness in his residential catchment. He enjoyed reading avidly and widely as a hobby and he was also an accomplished darts player. He is survived by his wife, Ann; sons, Michael, Listowel; Gerald, Listowel; daughters, Mary Ellen, Listowel and Breda, Listowel. He is also survived by one brother, Tony, St Kieran's Terrace, Athlone; sister, Mrs Carmel Nally; nine grandchildren, five great grandchildren and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection in St Mary's Church, Listowel, on Monday, May 4th, the burial took place in St John Paul II Cemetery, Ballybunion Road, Listowel.
