Mr Donal Duggan. (Director Tipperary Open Drama Festival).
As stated in an earlier post, the prestigious County Tipperary Open Drama Festival, under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland will be held once again in Holycross Community Centre, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. This popular event will take place, over 9 nights, from Friday March 21st until Saturday March 29th. The centre will open nightly at 8:30pm, except on Awards Night(Saturday March 29th), when the centre’s activities will commence, sharp, at 8:00pm.
As already announced, the Adjudicator for this year, will be Ms Irene O’Meara(B.Ed. LLSM, MA Drama & Theatre Studies); with Mr Donal Duggan continuing in his role as Festival Director. Festival committee members will be on hand, as is usual, to cater for attending patrons during necessary interval breaks.
This year, nine of Ireland’s leading drama groups will present plays by top playwrights.
Plays and Players.
Friday March 21st, (Open); “The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot”, By Stephen Adly Guirgis, (Clontarf Drama Group, Dublin). Saturday March 22nd, (Open); “The Blackwater Lightship”, by Colm Toibin (adapted by David Horan). Sunday, March 23rd, (Confined); “A Living Will”, by Jim Keane, (Suir Productions, Tipperary). Monday, March 24th, (Open); “The Weir”, by Colm McPherson (Brideview Drama Group, Waterford). Tuesday March 25th, (Open); “Rathmines Road”, by Deirdre Kinihan (Thurles Drama Group). [Note: Not Suitable for Children]. Wednesday March 26th, (Confined); “The Beauty Queen Of Leenane” By Martin McDonagh (Flavour Of The Month Productions, Limerick). Thursday March 27th, (Open); “Bailegangaire”, by Tom Murphy (Kilrush Drama Group). Friday, March 28th, (Confined); “The Snapper”, By Roddy Doyle (Clann Machua, Mayo). [Note: Not Suitable for Children]. Saturday, March 29th(Confined); “Amongst Men”, by Eoghan Rua Finn (Wayside Player’s Wexford).
Admission each night: €15. Season Ticket: €70 and Concession: €12.
For further information: Phone: 086-257 5159 or Email: donal@dugganvet.ie Fax: 0504-43147.
The Holycross County Tipperary Open Drama Festival committee are proud to announce that they have acquired the services, as ‘Adjudicator’, of Ms Irene O’Meara(B.Ed. LLSM, MA Drama & Theatre Studies) for the 2025, eight day, prestigious festival, which begins on Friday March 21st next and ends on Saturday March 29th.
Ms O’Meara holds a Masters in Drama and Theatre Studies, which has enabled her to work in many theatre related areas, namely the Drama Department of Mary Immaculate College and as a tutor with Hibernia College, in Drama, Literacy, and Integrated Arts. She is also involved in designs while facilitating courses in Process Drama for teachers and educators.
Her other work involves facilitating workshops in acting, ensemble work and other aspects of theatre, including the improvement of basic stagecraft.
Ms O’Meara has acted and directed in many plays with Nenagh Players, Aisteoirí an Aonaigh, DramsocNUIG and other drama groups over the years; as well as working on Lighting, Sound, Wardrobe, Stage Management. She has been involved in various committees and greatly appreciates all of the work and talent that goes on behind the scenes, thus enabling on-stage matters to run smoothly.
Ms O’Meara has a keen interest in dance and has also worked as choreographer with ‘Kids On Stage’, latter a Musical Theatre school in Tipperary. Her latest venture has been working in the area of harmonic singing, where the process of collaboratively creating and enjoying harmonies works as a healing, relaxing and grounding agent for the singers.
Finally, Ms O’Meara enjoys adjudicating at festivals and is looking forward to viewing the variety of this year’s productions at the County Tipperary Open Drama Festival in Holycross, Thurles and meeting with both the talented Drama Groups and the various audiences, each night.
Thurles Drama Group to open ‘Rathmines Road’ as a benefit night for the Order of Malta
Mr Gerard Fogarty (Officer in charge) Thurles Unit, Order of Malta, Reports:
Thurles Drama Group will present ‘Rathmines Road’, by Deirdre Kinahan, in The Source Arts Centre from Sunday February 16th until Friday February 21st inclusive. Opening night SundayFebruary 16th will be a benefit night for Thurles Order of Malta.
Note:Due to the sensitive themes and language in the play, ‘Rathmines Road’ is not suitable for children under 14 years of age.
Rehearsals are going really well and with 2 weeks to opening night the group are excited about supporting the Order of Malta’s fundraising programme.
The Order of Malta Ireland Ambulance Corps is one of the largest providers of first aid and voluntary medical services in Ireland. From small beginnings in Galway in 1938, it has developed into an organisation of over 2,500 members in more than 60 Units spread throughout communities all over Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The Order of Malta Ireland Ambulance Corps Thurles was established in 1948, shortly followed by its Cadet Unit, and has grown to become one of the largest and most active units in the country. They provide excellent first aid training, event cover, transport, venue hire, and community care services to the greater Thurles and Templemore area.
The Unit is made up of voluntary members of all ages into their eighties from all around the Mid-Tipperary area and a Cadet Unit (10-16 year olds). Membership is also made up of medical professionals – Doctors, Nurses, EMT’s, Paramedics, and Advanced Paramedics. Some of the Officers have been appointed to National and Regional roles within our organisation. Thurles unit provides many first aid and community services, first aid training courses for industry and for the public, emergency first aid and ambulance cover at events around Thurles like GAA matches, horse racing, car rallies, pilgrimages, major Diocesan events, and point-to-points.
They also provide patient transport facilities with our fleet of five fully equipped multi-terrain and sized ambulances and a mobile first aid station along with many community care services like nursing home visits and entertainment, parties for the elderly, hospitality at Blood Donation Clinics, and they are central to many Public Access Defibrillator Programmes locally.
The reason for fundraising on this occasion is the running of the Thurles Cadet Unit Order of Malta. As Dennis Jordan points out, “it will be used for the running of the Cadet Unit including uniforms, training, travel for our annual cadet camp, competitions and activities“. In addition, we like to supplement the cost to parents of cadets who travel to Lourdes to assist with caring for the sick during the Order of Malta International Pilgrimage to Lourdes. We also attend the National Order of Malta Pilgrimage to Knock every year. We are once again delighted to work with Thurles Drama Group and supporting their wonderful contribution to drama and community theatre in Thurles.
Opening night tickets are on sale for €20, including a wine and canapes reception at 7:15pm. Tickets can be purchased from any member of the Order of Malta(Mr Dennis JordanTel. (087) 974 0983), Thurles Drama Group and The Source box office; Tel. 0504 90204
Friends, Cashel library has the following FREE events this week:–
Adults Only Event:
Tomorrow Tuesday 11th at 6:00pm – Movie Night – “The Best Marigold Hotel”.
Several retirees decide to move to Jaipur, India, to stay in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, advertised as an exotic retirement home. This comedy drama boasts a stellar cast comprised of Dev Patel, Judi Dench, Celia Imrie, Bill Nighy, Ronald Pickup, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, and Penelope Wilton, and was nominated for five awards. All welcome
Children – Age 8 plus – Events:
Card Making Workshop: On Saturday 15th February at 11:00am – Max 12 participants, booking essential to Tel: 062 63825.
Lego Free Play Workshop: On Saturday 15th February at 2.30pm – Max 15 participants, booking essential to Tel: 062 63825.
Note: All events in all libraries across the county can be found HERE.
You canlocate the Cashel Library building, situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (G487+RX).
A poem “The Drawer” by that great extoller of ‘words with rich rural feeling’, Seamus O’Rourke.
Based in rural Ireland, Seamus has become widely known for his simple storytelling, which captures rural Irish life in a way that both amuses and affects the reader and listener.
In September 2024, Seamus released his much anticipated sequel to his popular first memoir, Standing in Gaps. Leaning on Gates is published by Gill Books and is available nationwide in bookshops.
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