Manchester to stage vip welcome for ballina drama group

THE Mayo Manchester Tourism and Business Group are planning a VIP welcome for the 154 members of the Heroes for Hospice theatre group from the Ballina area who will stage their UK premiere of Beyond the Barricade on Monday (October 26) at Z Arts Theatre in Hulme, Manchester.

The show is in aid of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, for which the group have already raised over £30,000 from their sell-out shows in Mayo.

The right honourable Sir Gerald Kaufman MP, who is the Father of the House of Commons, will welcome the group to Levenshulme when they arrive from Ireland tomorrow (October 25). The village in south Manchester is home to the biggest Mayo community outside of the west of Ireland, and the green and red flags will be flying high to welcome their friends and relatives from Ballina.

A special welcome party has been arranged for the group in the M19 bar and music venue, which is part of the opening celebrations for the two-week Levenshulme Community Festival.

Director of the show, Lavinia Gilmartin, said: “Everyone is really excited about making their UK debut in Manchester - we have loads of friends and relatives there. We have been overwhelmed by the support we have been given and are looking forward to meeting our friends in 'Mayo Manchester' again.”

Tony Hennigan, the director of Mayo Manchester, who is helping to co-ordinate and promote the show, added: “It's a fantastic show with a brilliant cast. We were just blown away when they opened up our gala concert for the Mayo Manchester Tradfest. The support for the show has been fantastic in Manchester - we even managed to get it a plug in front of 75,000 fans at Manchester United.”

Following the Manchester show on Monday, the group will return to Ireland for a performance in the Liberty Hall Theatre, Dublin, next Wednesday, October 28. For tickets, contact Maria on (086) 3597549.