Author, Poet and Press Correspondent Mr Tom Ryan Reports.
There was palpable excitement in the air last Friday night, when the celebrated actress of stage screen and television, Adjudicator, Ms. Anna Walker [Association of Drama Adjudicators], officially opened the 37th annual County Tipperary Open Drama Festival, which was last held two years ago in pre-Covid times.
This festival “rooted in the community” of Holycross/Ballycahill, has been a feature of life in the picturesque village, alongside of the 800 years old Cistercian Abbey, for nigh on 40 years and for almost all that time Mr. Donal Duggan has been its very effective Festival Director.
However, there was added an unexpected drama off stage this year, when the Tuesday before the Festival, the Mullingar Drama Group, who were to stage “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, next Thursday (March 24th), had sadly to withdraw from the festival, due to circumstances outside their control, (believed to be Covid related).
But, in best traditions of theatre “the show must go on”, and instead the Abbeysiders; latter the host group of the festival and the All-Ireland Confined Champions of 2019, opted to stage their own production of John B Keane’s popular “Moll”, on next Thursday night (March 24th).
It was gratifying to see so many familiar festival faces, true theatre loyalists, including members of Drama Groups from Thurles and elsewhere. The attendance included David and Kate McElgunn, Jim Ryan and comedian Tim Curran (Thurles); Han Costello, (Inch); her sister Esther Duggan; Denis Carroll, (Clonoulty); Pat McGrath, (Holycross); Fintan and Frances O‘Gorman, (Athnid), and Mike and Breda Hennessy, (Tipp Mid West Radio, Tipperary Town).
The Festival committee, held their traditional raffle [in which this writer won a box of chocolates]. They also had their traditional tearooms open at the interval, as an excellent thriller, “The Beacon”, by Nancy Harris was played on stage by the Ballycogley Players.
Festival life has returning to normal in the St. Michael’s Community Hall, Holycross, Co. Tipperary and it was such a nice feeling after all the trauma of the recent years, experienced locally and nationwide. As Mr. Donal Duggan stated, “The drama festival brings a welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and will help us to move from the dark days of Covid to the healthier, brighter and longer days of Spring“.
The hospitality of Holycross, Co. Tipperary, is well known and it is great to see old friendships being renewed and new ones made, during the interval “over that cuppa”.
Mr. Duggan thanked patrons and sponsors, the local media and particularly Tipp FM.
The hard working committee, who deserve to be congratulated on their trojan efforts, comprised this year of Rev. Celsus Tierney (President), Donal Duggan (Festival Director), Tommy Lanigan (Chairman), Claire Ryan (Secretary), Maudie Bourke and Tommy Lanigan (Joint Treasurers), Geraldine O’Neill (PRO), Marty O’Neill and Ger O’Dwyer (sponsorship), Diana Lacey (Raffle), Marty O’Neill and Paddy Connolly (Technical), and Marie Spillane, Peg Ryan, Elaine O’Dwyer, Andy Slattery (Committee). The Sub-Committee comprised of Jack Henchion, John Glasheen, Aishling Henchion, Gerry Kennedy and Derek Doherty.
Groups are competing for the “Tipperary Star” Cup in the Confined Section and the “Tipp FM Trophy” in the Open Category.
The Festival continues tonight (Tuesday, March 22nd), with “The Beauty Queen of Leenane”, by Martin McDonagh, played by Brideview Drama group. Tomorrow (Wednesday, March 23rd) will be staged “The Quiet Moment”by Mick Finn (Kilworth DG.). As already stated, on Thursday next (March 24th) the Holycross/Ballycahill Drama Group will stage “Moll”, [Note, which is not competing in this years Festival competition]. On Friday (March 25th), Skibbereen Theatre Society will stage “Brighton”by Jim Nolan On the final night, Saturday, (March 26th), Camross Drama Group will conclude this festival fare with Jimmy Murphy’s much-loved “The Kings of Kilburn High Road”.
This will be followed by final adjudication and presentation of awards.
Mr Donal Duggan, who welcomed Ms Anna Walker on her first visit to Holycross, Co. Tipperary; on a poignant note said “Covid took a heavy toll on people and drama did not escape, as we lost one of our founding members, Tom Molony and also Joe and Sally O’Rourke, who were all involved with our local group for many years”. The late Tom Molony was Chairman of the Festival, after it moved to its new home in Holycross, from Thurles in 1983 and he served on the committee for many years. He was one of the early members of the group and played parts in many plays over the years. “He will be remembered for his readily given advice, tempered with his ready wit”, continued Mr. Duggan.
He further added “I wish to thank our hardworking committee for their time and dedication to the festival which we all love”.
In thanking Tipp FM local radio, he also thanked and welcomed back the audience, “whose presence and support for live drama encourages us to keep trying to improve the festival each year“.
Many people across Tipperary and indeed Ireland, woke up to dirty looking vehicles, yesterday morning, despite same remaining stationary over last weekend. All vehicles without a garage or not sheltered, were found covered in a light form of brown dust on the roofs, windows and windscreens of their vehicles.
There is, however, thankfully an explanation for this dust. Same is being generated by clouds of sand particles coming from the Sahara Desert; same reaching very high altitudes. The particles are being transported worldwide, suspended in the air, covering thousands of miles and causing a decrease in European air quality; sand being visible on our streets and a reddish/orange sky colour in our atmosphere.
A few showers added overnight on Saturday and early on Sunday last and the result was Sahara dust being brought down to ground level, out of our atmosphere, all across Ireland and indeed other European countries including Spain, France and Germany.
Satellite images have shown huge amounts of this dust spreading across Europe, as people share eerie pictures of glowing orange skies.
This phenomenon is not new, often happening several times a year when big dust storms in the Sahara coincide with our southerly wind patterns; latter, this week, bringing our promised increase in temperatures.
The lack of rain over the past few days has meant that we haven’t really seen as much of this Saharan dust being grounded, as we have observed in previous years.
The Department of Health here in the Irish Republic has reported 4,024 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19 today. A further 10,631 people have registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal, bringing the overall total of cases in the Republic to 14,655.
There have been 63,954 cases reported since St. Patrick’s Day with; beginning Thursday, March 17th, – 5,231 PCR-confirmed cases and 8,322 people registering a positive antigen test through the HSE portal. On Friday, March 18th, – 5,628 PCR-confirmed cases and 6,313 people registering a positive antigen test through the HSE portal. On Saturday, March19th, – 4,787 PCR-confirmed cases and 6,774 people registering a positive antigen test through the HSE portal. On Sunday, March 20th, – 5,067 PCR-confirmed cases and 7,177 people registering a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.
A fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine is expected to be approved for use here in the Republic of Ireland, close to the middle of this year; before the winter season sets-in, according to An Tánaiste Mr Leo Varadkar.
The Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE, Dr. Colm Henry has stated that there are now multiple opportunities for the virus to transmit within communities, but the most important preventative measures continues to be vaccination and a booster dose.
Dr. Henry further stated that Limerick Hospital (serving North Tipperary), Dublin’s Mater Hospital and hospitals in Kerry and Letterkenny are today dealing with a significant number of Covid positive patients. Indeed, due to the very high levels of community covid-19 transmission, University Hospital Limerick, have once again re-introduced visiting restrictions as and from Saturday last.
In Northern Ireland over the past 24 hours, 2,007 cases of coronavirus were reported, up from 1,640 cases on yesterday.
There are 484 people with Covid in northern hospital, down from the figure of 509, last reported on Friday, with 5 patients remaining in intensive care suffering from the virus.
Sadly, 1 further new Covid-19-related death has also been reported in Northern Ireland today; bringing the total number of deaths linked to Covid-19, since the start of the pandemic to 3,274.
Meanwhile, China and Hong Kong are seeing their largest spike in Covid cases in more than 2 years, despite determinedly pursuing one of the world’s strictest virus elimination regulations. China currently has imposed stay-at-home orders on millions more people in the country’s northeast.
More than 10.9 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered, in at least 197 countries worldwide, up until yesterday, making this is the largest vaccination programme in the worlds history.
Let’s get back to sanitising hands and wearing those masks while out shopping and while in attendance at other public crowded gatherings.
Predeceased by her brother Tony; Mrs Cagney passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at South Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Her passing is most deeply regretted by her loving family, husband Ronnie, sons Raghnall and Barry, daughter Jane, grandchildren Conall (and his wife Keri), Eoghan, Alana, Niamh, Joshua, Caleb and Ryan, daughter-in-law Karen, sisters Daisy, Cora and Ann, brothers Patsy and Rossy, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
[NB: Due to Public Health Guidelines, regarding C-19 virus restrictions; those attending will continue to observe strict adherence to social distancing, face covering, with no hand shaking.]
The extended Cagney family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Pre-deceased by her much loved son John and brother Jim; Mrs Ryan passed away peacefully, following a short illness borne with great dignity and courage and while in the tender loving care of her family.
Her passing is most sadly missed by her heartbroken husband Martin, immediate family Maria, Martin, Seamus, Tracy and Sarah, her sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, adored grandchildren, dear friends Marion and Nellie, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mrs Ryan will repose at her place of residence (Eircode E41 HT04) on tomorrow evening Monday, March 21st, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm. Her body will be received into the Church of the Assumption Ballingarry (Eircode E41 X523) on Tuesday morning to further repose for Requiem Mass at 10:00pm, followed by interment in the Good Shepherd Cemetery, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, (Eircode E41 C658).
[NB: Due to Public Health Guidelines, regarding C-19 virus restrictions; those attending Requiem Mass will continue to observe strict adherence to social distancing, face covering, with no hand shaking.]
The extended Ryan family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to the Irish Cancer Society.
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