DONAL RING FOR KILWORTH ARTS CENTRE

Thursday, December 11 will be a special night at The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth when legendary accordion maestro Donal Ring visits, now celebrating 50 years in the music business!

For almost 50 years now people still dance and sing to the music of Donal Ring. Born in Co Cork in 1935 into a very musical family, Donal was profoundly influenced by his father who was a renowned melodeon and chromatic accordion player.

His love of Irish music coupled with his distinctive natural ability soon made him a most sought-after talent. At the age of 13, he was playing in concerts. At the age of 15, he joined a band for the first time and the rest - so to speak is history .

By 1958, Donal felt ready to form his own band. With the original line-up of Noel Crowley, Paddy Carey, Eamon Long, Gary Crowley and Florrie McCarthy, the band played its first gig in “The Glen” Hall in Blackpool, Cork. And so the Donal Ring Sound was born.

The Donal Ring Sound remains hugely popular and he has enjoyed huge success, both here and abroad. Tickets for the Kilworth concert are available from this weekend at the usual outlets – Cotter’s Kilworth (025) 27109; Hyland’s Mitchelstown (025) 24528 or in Fermoy at The Avondhu office (025) 32227. Booking essential.

BARRYMORE PLAYERS CASTLELYONS ONE ACT DRAMA FESTIVAL

The Barrymore Players One Act Festival will take place in Castlelyons Community Centre this weekend the 21st, 22nd and 23rd November at 7.30pm sharp. Your continued support would be gratefully appreciated. There will be 10 plays taking to the stage over the weekend.

We are delighted this year to add the Donal Crowley Perpetual Memorial Cup to our list of awards. The cup, which will be awarded to the best circuit play, has been kindly donated by his family in memory of their dad. Donal was a long-standing member of the Barrymore Players and took part in many productions.

The Billy Leahy Perpetual Memorial Cup will go to the best play not in the circuit. We are as always most grateful to Eileen O’Doherty for her continued supported of our festival.

At this year’s one act drama festival, the Barrymore Players will be staging their one act play ‘Red Hot In Amsterdam’, produced by Sheila Casolani and Mary Hartnett.

The comedy play is set in the Red Light district of Amsterdam, where two thieves who have stolen a haul of diamonds decide to hide them in a brothel. On returning to retrieve the stash they realise that someone in the establishment has taken the diamonds and hidden them themselves.

In trying to find their diamonds they come upon all sorts of characters from the chief of police, to the brothel’s owner Madame Celestine to the Madame’s employees Kora and Corinne. All is not what it seems in this comedy play but to find out the twist you have to come and see for yourself.

‘Red Hot In Amsterdam’ is sure to have the audience laughing in their seats with its witty storyline and comedy acting from the seven strong cast Alan O’Reagan, Johnny Joyce, Anne Aherne, James Ronyane, Niamh Hartnett, Julie Nolan and Aisling Hartnett. The play will be performed on Sunday night and we look forward to seeing you there.
The line up is as follows:
Friday
‘Revenge’ written by the late Sean McGeough, performed by the The Pyke Theatre Group, Ballincollig; ‘Who’s in the Fridge?’ written by Charlie Conway, performed by Active Pulse, Ballincollig; ‘Dispossessed at Mona Locka’ written by the late Sean McGeough, performed by Pyke Theatre Group, Ballincollig; ‘Faded Footsteps’ written by Maura Williamson, performed by Hag’s Bed Theatre Group, Fermoy.
Saturday
‘Family Snap’ written by Michael Harding, performed by Glanworth Players, Glanworth; ‘Night Mother’ written by Marsha Norman, performed by Take 5, Rathcormac; ‘Barred’ written by Derek O’Gorman, performed by Swan Music and Theatre Group, Castlelyons.
Sunday
‘Sovereign Love’ written by T C Murray, performed by the Kilworth Dramatic Society; ‘The Poppy and the Shamrock’ written by George Peet, performed by Brideview Players, Tallow; ‘Red Hot in Amsterdam’ written by Patricia Robinson, performed by The Barrymore Players. So come along and enjoy a great weekend of theatre.

‘OVER MY DEAD BODY’ FOR LISMORE COURTHOUSE THEATRE NEXT WEEKEND

Lismore Dramatic Society return to the stage with Derek Benfield’s classic comedy ‘Over My Dead Body’ next weekend from the 28th to the 30th November and continuing the following weekend from the 4th to the 7th December.

This will be the society’s latest production in Lismore’s new Courthouse Theatre, which has been fully restored and renovated in a joint venture between Waterford County Council. The Court Services in association with the technical assistance of the Dramatic Society.

Rehearsals are coming to an end and all is now in readiness for opening night on Friday, 28th November. The play is directed by James Lenane and a great night’s entertainment is assured.

Following his wife’s recent death, Gerald hopes to spend the rest of his days alone with his memories. But he reckons without his late wife’s “forward planning”, which results in a series of unexpected events occurring that Gerald has not anticipated.

With the help of his daughter and son-in-law, Gerald strives to maintain his independence and keep unexpected visitors at bay. But the recalling of memories revives events from the past that are both funny and sad.

The author Derek Benfield born 11th March, 1926 is a well-known playwright and actor. He was born in Bradford, Yorkshire. He is the author of ‘Running Riot’ and the actor who played Patricia Routledge’s husband in ‘Hetty Waithropp Investigates’ (1996-1998).

Arguably Benfield’s best known character portrayal was as transport company foreman Billy Riley in the UK television series ‘The Brothers’. His plays include the farces ‘Post Horn Gallop’, ‘Wild Goose Chase’ along with plays ‘Bedside Manners’, ‘Anyone for Breakfast’ and ‘Beyond a Joke’.

‘Over My Dead Body’ will be performed by the following cast - James Lenane as Gerald James (a widower), Suzanne Dempsey as Shirley Tyler (daughter), Kevin Roche as Mark Tyler (son-in –law), Julie Landers as Amanda Eddison (sister-in-law), Blanaid Hennessy as Isobel French (an old friend) and newcomer Lucy Hanrahan as Carol Capshaw (the maid).

The play runs from Friday 28th to Sunday, 30th November and continues the following weekend from the 4th to the 7th Dec. This is a delightful situation comedy not to be missed! Booking at Cahills, Lismore on 058 53992.

PROMOTING THE ARTS IN SOUTH TIPP

South Tipperary is becoming a hotbed of theatre and the performing arts. This is due in no small way to the success of South Tipperary Rural Arts Group.

The organisation have been proactive in encouraging local communities to embrace the arts in its many and varied forms. The group’s good work continued on Saturday last when a substantial crowd of interested individuals gathered in Burncourt Community Centre for a brain storming session.

All the angles, from finance to advertising were discussed and feedback from the event was very positive. Arts officer for the region, Sally O’Leary said the number and quality of events held in the South Tipperary area was impressive. People were very enthusiastic and she expressed confidence that progress made to date would be built on.

The seminar heard that with a bit of imagination, colour and creativity otherwise ordinary venues (halls and churches) could be transformed to accommodate plays, concerts and live performers.

Events to date in South Tippeary have included a Welsh orchestra, a Liam O Maonlaoi concert, a drumming workshop, a variety of plays, a fiddle workshop and a display by traditional Irish dancers.

ONE-ACT FOR KILWORTH

The members of Kilworth Dramatic Society are busy rehearsing a one-act play for a fundraising event in aid of St Martin’s School, Kilworth. The weekend for this fundraising event will be on Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30, 2008.

These two nights will consist of a wide range of talents from the children of St Martin’s School and a one-act play. Pat Flynn produces the play called ‘Sovereign Love’ by T.C. Murray this year.

The cast consists of Mick Twomey, Colette Sheehan, Brian Carey, Patricia Coughlan, Conor Cooney, Niamh McCarthy, John Shields, John Murphy and Charlie McCarthy. The group are taking part this weekend in the one act festival in Castlelyons, so I would like to wish them all the best.

The parents’ association of St Martin’s School and the Kilworth Dramatic Society would very much appreciate your attendance at our variety night on November 29 and 30. Keep watching this space for more updated information.