Premiere of Major John MacBride play
ALL is set for the premiere of a newly written play about Major John MacBride.
Foxy Jack – Giolla Éireann will be staged in Westport Town Hall tonight (Wednesday) and again on Sunday as part of this year’s Westport Arts Festival. The work, commissioned by Gnó Mhaigh Eo, involves newly written bilingual drama and poetry along with music and songs of that era, all coming together to tell the story of a Westport man who lost his life for the cause of Irish freedom.
The initial concept came from Freda Nic Giolla Chatháin of Gnó Mhaigh Eo, who received funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to stage a commemorative show as part of their An Teanga Bheo 1916-2016 programme.
Simultaneously, Westport native Úna Uí Chuinn of Muintir Chathair na Mart had an idea to stage a show for the centenary celebrations, and so, deciding to collaborate and pool resources, these two ladies have been the driving forces behind this major new production.
The play has been co-written by Seán Ó Tarpaigh and Diarmuid de Faoite.
Ó Tarpaigh, a native of Kilkelly currently based in Dublin, has numerous years of experience as a writer, actor and director. De Faoite, writer, actor, director and former writer-in-residence with Mayo County Council, was nominated for an IFTA for his role of Cathal in Corp agus Anam, won the Best Actor Award in Gradaim Chumarsáide an Oireachtais and his play on Pádraic Ó Conaire won the Stewart Parker Award for best Irish Drama.
The production was initially supported through the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and additional funding has been received from Portwest, West Mayo Municipal District, Mayo County Council and Togra Mhaigh Eo, along with financial contributions from the producers, Gnó Mhaigh Eo and Muintir Chathair na Mart.
The cast includes the co-writers, Ó Tarpaigh and De Faoite, along with Mags Gallen (Fermanagh native living in Westport), Joan King (Kiltimagh), Séamas Mac Eachmharcaigh (Partry), Paul Mekitarian (Ballintubber), Darren Ó Riagáin (from Sligo, living in Castlebar) and Barra Ó Ceallaigh (Castlebar).
Two Westport children will be taking part – Rebecca Staunton and Tim Carty. Rebecca, a direct descendant of Honoria Gill, John MacBride’s mother, will play the part of Maud Gonne’s daughter, Iseult, and Tim, grandson of Úna Uí Chuinn, will play the part of young Seán MacBride.
The singing in the show will feature three members of Coda, Declan Askin, Brian Lennon and Conall Ó Domhnaill, and musical accompaniment will be by Des Cafferkey, Julie Langan, Jackie Small, Bartholomew de Boer and Jack Carney.
The show will be staged two nights, tonight (Wednesday, September 28) and Sunday, October 2, at 8 p.m.
For more, see westportartsfestival.com or contact Gnó Mhaigh Eo on (094) 9010140. Tickets are on sale through Westport Town Hall box office.