Theatre | Thurles Information

Numbers Attending Cultural Institutions & Public Gatherings Curtailed Due To Covid-19

As stated in our previous blog; caretaker Taoiseach Mr Leo Varadkar has announced that the country’s schools, colleges and childcare facilities are to close in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, with effect from this evening.

From 6:00pm today, schools, colleges and childcare facilities will immediately close.

Rules regarding public gatherings
In relation to cultural institutions, indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and a maximum outdoor gathering of more than 500 people will be permitted. The restrictions will stay in place until March 29th 2020.

To this end Thurles.Info have been contacted by Inch Players, to confirm that they have postponed their play scheduled for this coming weekend, due to the escalation of this pandemic .

Workforce requested to work remotely, where possible:
Where it is possible to work remotely, people are requested to do so, thus requiring employers, the public and business interests to take a sensible approach to coronavirus.

Mr Varadkar made the announcement in Washington DC, where he is visiting as part of the annual St.Patrick’s Day celebrations, latter which has been sensibly cancelled in light of the spreading virus.

Inch Players Present “It Runs In The Family”

Inch Players to present the Hilarious Comedy, “It Runs In The Family”.

Tom Ryan Reports:-

The legendary Inch Players will present the hilarious two-act comedy, “It Runs in the Family”, by Ray Cooney, on next Saturday, Sunday and Monday March 14^th, 15^th and 16^th at 8.15pm nightly in the Inch Community Hall, Thurles.

The Cast:
The cast comprises of John Glasheen (Dr. David Mortimer), Brendan Hoare (Dr. Mike Connolly), Matilda Hayes (Rosemary Mortimer), PJ Delaney (Dr. Hubert Bonney), Bridget Bourke (Matron), Patrick Gormley (Dr. Drake Willoughby), Michelle Fitzpatrick (Jane Tate), Jodie Kennedy ( Sister), Jack Lillis (Leslie), Dave McCarthy (Garda Sergeant), Michael Carey (Bill), Mary Ryan (Mother).

Production Team:
Producer: Matt Shanahan; Director’s: Ella Darcy and Kathleen Flynn; Continuity: Joanne Ryan, Catherine Kinane and Kathleen Flynn; Lights and Sound: Micheal Cahill; Set Design: Donal Kinane, Matthew Buckley, Mary Everard, Helen Carey, Dave McCarthy and Matt Shanahan.

The scene takes place in the doctor’s staff room in a city hospital. All is well preparing for Christmas in the hospital until the past comes back to haunt one of the senior doctors.
This brilliant comedy comes to life when all hell breaks loose and staff, patients and various members of the public are drawn into the plot.

The group welcome all their cast on stage and also new members, Mary Ryan, Michelle Fitzpatrick and Dave McCarthy. They also welcome Jack Lillis who is on stage with the senior group, having performed in the junior group in the past.

The group wish to thanks Caitriona Cahill, Catherine Butler, Cathy Butler and Margaret Ryan, who look after them so well backstage.

A spokesperson for the group said “We are very lucky here in Inch Players to have such a lovely Community Hall always at our disposal and many thanks to the hall committee for always being there for us”.

She added: “It would be very remiss of us all not to mention the anchor of the group, Marese Kennedy. Marese looks after us all, rarely misses a rehearsal, always willing to step in when needed. The nights we are on stage, Marese ensures there are always enough people to look after the door and she ensures we have cover for the shop etc. She manages our finances in a very professional manner and we are very grateful to her for all she does for us. We thank our loyal supporters who turn out each year to our performances. Without you we could not go on. We also would like to mention our esteemed President, Tom O’Sullivan, who is the longest serving member of our group”.

Death Has Occurred Of Comedian Brendan Grace.

It is with sadness Thurles and Tipperary residents learned this morning of the death of the much-loved comedian, actor and entertainer Mr Brendan Grace, who passed away at the aged of 68.

Born in the heart of Dublin in the inner city’s ‘Liberties’ area in 1951, he left school at the age of just 13 to begin work.

A regular visitor to Thurles, drawing massive crowds, Mr Grace had been hospitalised for the last number of weeks, while receiving treatment for pneumonia and for recently diagnosed cancer.

Mr Grace began his career in entertainment as an 18-year-old singer, joining a folk group known as “The Gingermen”. It was while with this band, he later added comedy to his list of talents, eventually turning himself into the hilarious characters of “Bottler”; “Fr Fintan Stack” and the “Father of the Bride”.

His hit songs included “Cushie Butterfield”, “Combine Harvester”, and “The Dutchman”.

In recent years although suffered from ill health, he had managed to divided his time performing between here in Ireland, England and America. In the past he supported entertainers of the magnitude of Ms Liza Minnelli, Mr John Denver, Mr Frank Sinatra and Mr Sammy Davis Junior, turning his sharp observations of daily life here in Ireland, into his hilarious brand of comedy.

As an actor, from 1995 onwards, Mr Grace starred in ‘Moondance’; ‘Father Ted’, and more recently as Big Sean in ‘Killinaskully’, before in 2015, starring in ‘The Gift’.

Adored by his fans not just in Tipperary, but all over the world, Mr Grace is survived by his wife Eileen, his children and grandchildren.

Requiescat in Pace

Attention All Mums & Dads – Cruinniú na nÓg comes to Thurles

“A Meeting of Youth” – [Translated into the Irish language, ‘Cruinniú na nÓg’.]

Ms Suzanne Brosnan (Senior Library Assistant), Tipperary County Council Library Service, invites all our youth to let their “imagination fly with Cruinniú na nÓg”, here in Thurles Library, Cathedral Street on Saturday June 15th 2019. (That is next Saturday).

Cruinniú na nÓg represents a national day of creativity for our young people; giving them the opportunity to express themselves through a specific programme of cultural and creative activities, where they can share ideas, learn new skills while having fun.

Enjoy a day full of interactive free events for children of all age groups.

[ Note: This event is supported by the Tipperary Creative Ireland programme.]

10:30 am – 11:45 pm – “Clowning Around Workshop”, hosted by Danielle Martin. A workshop for children ages 7-12 years exploring mime, comedy and lots more……

11:00 am – 12:00 pm – “Story-time”, with Sarah Tully, who believes “imagination is the magic of childhood”. Sarah will incorporate props, puppets and story sacks into her tales.

12:00 noon – “Summer Stars Reading Challenge” launch: A nationwide campaign promoting reader development and literacy in children.

12:00 noon – 12:30 pm – “Wobbly Circus Performance”. The award-winning circus and street theatre company will provide two street performances during the day.

12:30 pm – “Dance workshop” with dance instructor ‘Cerys’ from the Dwan Dance Academy, latter based in Thurles. This session is suitable for children aged 7 years and plus.

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm – Mobile Music School will host two workshops this first drumming session is aimed at children aged 4 – 7years. Explore the members of the percussion family and learn the importance of beat in music.

1:30 pm – “Dance Workshop” with ‘Cerys’ – a fun filled lively workshop for children ages 4 years and plus.

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm – “Mad Professor Performance”, join Niall O’Dwyer for 60 minutes of educational and fun experiments. This show will spark the imagination with mad programs and activities involving air, sound and lots more!
Session 2 of the “Mad Professor” will take place at 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm.

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm – A 2nd session of the “Mobile Music School” suitable for children aged 8 years and plus.

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – “Wobbly Circus Workshop”. Using the props provided and the guidance of excellent teachers; learn to walk the tight-wire, stilt walking, plate spinning and loads more circus skills.

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm – “Wobbly Circus”. A final performance and a great way to end the family day.

We will also have “Pavement Art” and “Milk the Cow”; weather of course permitting, as these are outside events.

Looking forward to welcoming all in attendance.

For further Information please do contact Tel. No. 0761-06-6131

Thurles Musical Society To Stage “Michael Collins”.

**Keith O’Dwyer-Greene** *(Michael Collins)*, **Marie Therese Kirby** *(Kitty Kiernan)* and John Hayes *(Harry Boland)* – three of the leads in the show which has been described as *“The Irish Les Mis”*

PRO & Vice Chairman for Thurles Musical Society, Mr Noel Dundon, reports:-

Award winning Thurles Musical Society is delighted to be staging the Musical Drama “Michael Collins”, by arrangement with the Michael Collins Production Trust.

The show will run in The Premier Hall, Thurles from Tuesday March 26th through to Saturday March 30th inclusive, with the curtain rising each night at 8:00pm.

This truly fantastic show; described by Director Oliver Hurley as “the Irish Les Mis”, was penned by the late Bryan Flynn with musical arrangements and orchestration by David Wray, and additional vocal arrangements and original musical direction by David Hayes.

It has already been staged to great acclaim this season by Coolmine Musical Society and Oyster Lane Musical Society, and Thurles will now seek to follow in their footsteps and bring this magnificent piece of theatre to a highly expectant audiences.

Thurles and Tipperary, of course, has many connections with the real life Michael Collins and the War of Independence. Indeed, Sologheadbeg in south west Tipperary is generally accepted to have been the location for the firing the first shots of the War of Independence one centenary ago this year, and though Collins was in the United Kingdom, breaking Eamon de Valera out of jail at that time, he was to include the likes of Dan Breen, Sean Treacy and Sean Hogan as members in his hit teams; latter known as flying columns, around the country later.

Loyalties Run Deep Across Political Divides

No matter where this show is staged, there will be many local angles to it. Indeed, within the cast of Thurles Musical Society there are many links to the Michael Collins story and loyalties run deep across both sides of the political divide with currently tremendous banter and commentary within the company as pro-Collins people end up in the anti-camp, and vice-versa as a result of the bass, tenor, alto, soprano divide. Surely Bryan Flynn never anticipated such a scenario as he consigned his thoughts to paper when writing this show. Or, maybe he did?

Front Line Cast

In any event Thurles Musical Society members are really enjoying their project and with a top-class front line, which includes Keith O’Dwyer Greene as Michael Collins, Cathal O’Donoghue as Eamon de Valera, Marie Therese Kirby as Kitty Kiernan, John Hayes as Harry Boland, Peter Donnelly as Joe Emmet, Frank Tuohy, Damian Sweeney, Nina Scott and Linda Ryan as the Abbey Theatre Players, Deirdre Hayes as Mother Ireland, and Jonathan Gleeson as Cathal Brugha, not to mention many more household names playing other roles; the audience is really in for a treat.

Mary Rose McNally is at the helm as Musical Director/ Conductor while Michelle O’Connell, Tommy Sweeney, Rita Dempsey and of course Oliver Hurley complete the production team.

This musical has attracted a company of more than fifty for Thurles, and the committee and those on stage are looking forward to welcoming all those who wish to come along to enjoy what is promised to be a top class production.

Booking Office

The Ticket Booking Office is now open for this major Thurles production at Bookworm, Liberty Square, (On the junction of Liberty Square and Parnell Street in the town). Tickets can also be booked on the Thurles Society Telephone at 085 2868726.

If you do only one thing this year to cast you mind back to the time of Collins and the War of Independence, attend this show. Expect to experience a truly theatrical tour-de-force.