Grand Finale highlight of Mayo Day at TF Royal
By Tom Gillespie
THE sold-out Mayo Day Grand Finale will be staged at the TF Royal Theatre tonight (Saturday).
It is being hosted by Louise Duffy from RTÉ and features Sean Keane, Niall McCabe, Stephen Doherty and band, The Moy Singers, Patrick Feeney, Frank McCaffrey, Stuart Moyles, David Connor, the Mayo Trad Ensemble, Batafada Samba Band, Kings of Connaught, Bog Bodies, and the Robe Celtic Dancers.
The marketing manager at the TF Royal, Fiona Coyne, said: “This is a free event and tickets for it are sold out. Being a Sligo woman this is my first time experiencing Mayo Day. My dad's dad is from Knockmore, so I have a Mayo connection. This is going to be a brilliant family event.”
The Mayo Day event is being staged in the 2,200-seater TF Royal Theatre - the largest in the west of Ireland.
Fiona said: “We have a fine reputation as a venue. At Christmas, Joanne McNally had two sold-out nights, as did Picture This and Kingfishr, while Castlebar's Alan Clarke has done five shows - all sold out.
“The theatre brings business for all the town, all the pubs, all the restaurants, accommodation and taxis.
“People much prefer to come here than go up to Dublin. I remember when Kingfishr announced they were going to play here, there were so many selling their tickets for the Dublin gig.”
Another first for the TF Royal was the launch in March of the all new carvery - the only carvery in Castlebar town.
It operates from Monday to Saturday and is open from 12 noon to 3 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. There is no booking necessary and the roast of the day is €16 and the mini roast is €11.50, and you are in and out in under 30 minutes.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Step back into the rich history at the TF Royal, where the journey began in the early 1950s.
From its humble beginnings, the venue has undergone remarkable transformations to become the state-of-the-art theatre it proudly calls home today.
In 1961, the Royal Ballroom captivated locals and soon became a beloved dancing Mecca. Fast forward to 1999, and the theatre format for concerts was established, setting the stage for further growth.
In 2005, the Jennings Group developed a 1,500-seater theatre, which served as the testing ground for the current 2,200-seater TF Royal Theatre.
Fiona added: “We cherish our past and celebrate the exciting path that has led us to offer unforgettable experiences to our valued audience. Join us as we continue to create cherished memories and look forward to an incredible future together.”
With a 2,200 seated capacity and 4,000 standing, the 3,200 square foot stage boasts top-notch technology, including acoustics, visuals, lighting, production rigging and backstage facilities.
Serving a 580,000 market catchment area within 70 miles, the theatre is the largest venue outside Dublin with no comparable size within 150 miles.
Not only that, they also have 10 additional function rooms, a multi-storey carpark adjacent to the theatre and a three-star hotel on-site.
Fiona continued: “Welcoming over 100,000 visitors annually across more than 140 events, the TF Royal Theatre has firmly established itself as a powerhouse of live entertainment in the west of Ireland.
“The venue continues to attract artists from all over the world to Castlebar, further enhancing its reputation as a premier destination for live performance.”
Amazing acts over the past 12 months included Michael McIntyre, Kyla Cobbler, Nigel Owens, Gearóid McCarthy, Imelda May, Block Rockin’ Beats, Picture This and Kingfishr.
And there’s plenty more to come, with upcoming performances from Doireann Garrihy, Whistling Donkeys, Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, Christopher Cross, Christy Moore, Garron Noone, Marti Pellow and UB40 - to name just a few.
Said Fiona: “Beyond entertainment, the TF Royal Theatre plays a vital role in supporting the local economy in Castlebar. As one of the largest employers in the area, the venue not only provides significant employment opportunities, but also drives substantial footfall to surrounding hotels, restaurants, bars, and retailers - making a meaningful contribution to the region’s cultural and tourism offering.”
FIONA'S JOURNEY
Fiona, a native of Castleconnor, Co. Sligo, was thrown in at the deep end when she took up her post at the TF Royal nine months ago.
Her role is to oversee all social media, brand awareness and advertising at the TF Royal Hotel, the award winning 2,200-seater TF Royal Theatre, The Yew Tree Cafe and the Green Room Bar and Restaurant.
Since her appointment in September, the theatre has hosted the cream of Irish and international acts, including Joanne McNally, Picture This, Kingfishr, and Alan Clarke.
Fiona grew up in Castleconnor, near Enniscrone, and worked in Dublin for years.
She added: “I came back west in the last couple of months. I was with Hibernia College in Dublin for five years. I have always been in sales and marketing.
“I initially started when I came from college and I was in sales with Irish Jobs.ie and then I went into marketing with an agency in Dublin, Win Win, where we were dealing with SuperValu Getaway Hotel Breaks. From there I went to Hibernia and now I am with the TF Royal since September.
“Since I have come in we started the season in September and we eased into it and got into Christmas time. We had the likes of Joanne McNally, Kingfishr, Tumbling Paddies and upcoming we have Marti Pelliow, Christopher Cross, Marty Mane, and Christy Moore.
“This is the biggest theatre in the west of Ireland. I used to come here myself. I travelled here for different shows over the years - River Dance and Koadaline.”
She added: “I have always done marketing and I feel I will keep up with that as there are so many elements to this job. I have always loved entertainment and music. I go to Electric Picnic every year. Even when I came in here to be interviewed I had literally come back from seeing Coldplay in Wembley.
“I get to go down and meet the acts the nights they are here and see if they need any help back stage. I was used to coming as a customer but it is nice to see the operation from the back stage point of view.
“I was thrown in at the deep end but that was a good way to learn. The first few weeks I was finding my feet.”