Local Notes: Kiltimagh drama group to stage Roddy Doyle's 'The Snapper'
The cast of 'The Snapper' which will be presented by the Clann Machua Drama Group in the Town Hall Theatre, Kiltimagh on this Thursday, Friday and Saturday February 13th, 14th and 15th at 8pm each night. Picture: Sally Lavin
The week has finally arrived when Roddy Doyle’s ‘The Snapper’ makes its debut on a Mayo stage.
Clann Machua Drama Group will present the full-length comedy play in Kiltimagh Town Hall Theatre on this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 13th, 14th and 15th.
It’s refreshing to see new plays coming to the stage and Clann Machua is to be congratulated for selecting this script. The play has a big cast too, and only suits large, confident and capable groups like Clann Machua.
‘The Snapper’ is set in Dublin in the late 1980s. It is the story of Sharon Rabbitte, a 20 year-old living with her parents who becomes pregnant after an encounter with a man she’d rather forget. She refuses to tell anyone who the father is. She decides to keep the child and slowly starts to tell her family and friends. She quickly becomes the talk of the town and there is much discussion on who the identity of the father could be. That is until one unlikely candidate starts to come to the fore.
The central role of Sharon Rabbitte will be played by Siobhan Redmond. Sharon’s parents, Veronica and Jimmy, are played by Finola Mellett and Seamus Corry.
Director, Rebecca Farrington, has doubled-up on the casting of the Rabbitte children. Layla Carney and Gemma Scahill will play Tracy Rabbitte, Dareen Godfrey and Jessica Comer sharing the role of Linda Rabbitte. The part of Darren Rabbitte will alternate between Seán Horan and Caoimhin Flatley.
The part of Doris Burgess will be performed by Christina Jordan, with Denis Charlton playing George Burgess. Rebecca Farrington plays Yvonne Burgess, with Maura Murphy in the role of Jackie O'Keefe.
The part of Mary Curran will be played by Elaine Regan, while Fiona Campbell will play both the Midwife and the Radiologist.
The play will be directed by Rebecca Farrington. The set designers are Tony Kelly and Seamus Corry. The lighting team is made up of Dominic Jordan, Fraser Smith and Oisin Herraghty. The sound technicians are Adrian Lavan and Ethan Jordan. Tony Kelly, Cameron Farrington, Sean Langan, Vinnie Clabby, Keith Flanagan, Eadhmonn MacSuibhne and Fraser Smith make up the stage crew.
This is Clann Machu’s entry into the All-Ireland 3-Act Drama Circuit for 2025. Over the course of the competition, the group will perform in festivals in Clare, Laois, Kildare, Cork, Galway and Tipperary in their quest to qualify for the All-Ireland Finals, which will be held in Claremorris in April.
There is an unbelievable amount of work in getting a play to tour. Apart from line-learning, rehearsals, set-building and costumes, the logistics of taking a play into theatres and venues across the country can be daunting. Some have very poor facilities while some are upstairs which involves extra work. And then, how well the production does in the competition, is down to the opinion of a single adjudicator on the night.
The best of luck to Clann Machua on the road and in the competition. The local shows raise much-needed funds to offset some of the costs of going on the road as well as getting the production ‘competition ready.’ The gang deserves the full support of the community.
Early booking for the Kiltimagh shows is advisable. You’ll be kicking yourself if you miss it when you hear the talk around the town about how good it is. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Kiltimagh Knock United has announced the appointment of Alan Gough from Galway as first-team manager.
Gough is a former Longford Town player-manager and his previous clubs as a player included Galway United, Derry City, Shelbourne, Fulham and Portsmouth. He also had a number of international appearances for Ireland at Under-19 and Under-21 level.
Kiltimagh Knock United's online club shop is open. Get your KK merchandise ahead of the new season today. The link is open for a limited time and is available on the club’s Facebook page.
To mark European Day for Crime Victims, which occurs annually on February 22nnd, Victim Assistance, the national charity based in Kiltimagh, has organised a special Mass at Knock Basilica to be celebrated on Sunday, February 23rd, at 12 noon.
Representatives from the emergency services and victims of crime are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served afterwards in St John's Rest and Care Centre. The Kiltimagh Parish Choir will sing at the mass.
Victims Assistance supports victims of crime nationally. Its office is at Aiden Street, Kiltimagh.
John and Danny Walsh were the winners of last week’s card game, which was held in the parish centre.
In joint second place were Mary and Liam Moran, and Mary and Jimmy Doyle. The Last 10 winners were Mike Nolan and John Clancy. The spot prize winners were Mary and Richard Carney, with raffle prizes going to James Walsh, Paddy Carney and Colette Lavelle.
It was a father versus son heads-up battle to decide the winner in Round 1 of the Spring Poker League in Teach O’Hora on Wednesday night last.
In the end, Pat Boyle got the better of his son, Isaac, to claim the honours. Third prize was won by Michael Sheridan.
The other finalists were: 4th, Michael Higgins; 5th, AN Other; 6th, Martin Regan; 7th, John Reynolds; 8th, Paul Walsh; 9th, Gerry Groarke.
Pat is the early pace setter and tops the league table with 24 points followed by Isaac on 19. The rest of the top twelves is Michael Sheridan 14, Michael Higgins 13, Martin Regan 12, AN Other 10, Paul Walsh 9, John Reynolds 8, Gerry Groarke 6, Enda Ruane 5, Derry O’Sullivan 4, Nicky Cunnane 3.
The league runs for fifteen weeks with tournaments every Wednesday night at 8pm. Entry is €20 with one rebuy or add-on allowed, also €20. €5 from each entry and rebuy goes towards the league final prize pool with the rest paid out on the night.
At the end of the league, the top twelve players qualify for the Grand Final and they will be joined by two others from a last-chance play-off to play for an esteemed prize pool of €2,000.
The death has occurred of Ann McNicholas of Main St, Kiltimagh.
Ann died peacefully in St Teresa's Ward of the University College Hospital, Galway. She was predeceased by her parents, Tommie and Maureen and will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sisters Miriam, Colette (Jackie), Louise (Padraig), her brothers Thomas (Muriel), Francis (Brenda), Andrew (Marie), and David, ten nieces and nephews, and sixteen grandnieces and grandnephews, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Ann was laid to rest in Kilkinure Cemetery after Funeral Mass in the Church of the Holy Family, Kiltimagh on Tuesday last.
May she rest in peace.
Adele Gilmartin was the winner of the Kiltimagh GAA 50/50 last week. Adele won €631.
Congratulations to Ava Mitchell of KKU, who has been called up to the Mayo Women’s Under-17 squad.
The death occurred on January 25th of Patrick Joseph Freeman, of Leixlip, Co. Kildare and formerly of Aghamore.
Joe, as he was known, was brother of Mai Higgins and Chris Freeman, both of Kiltimagh.
Joe died peacefully in the loving care of the staff at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. He was the beloved husband of Mary, much-loved father of Patrick, Siobhán, Clodagh, Fergus and Gráinne and brother of Chris, Mai and the late Tom.
Joe will be sadly missed by his loving wife, sons, daughters, grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brother, sister, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Joe was laid to rest in Confey Cemetery after Funeral Mass in the Church of Our Lady’s Nativity, Leixlip.
May he rest in peace.
Congratulations to Sadhbh Mooney who has been selected as part of the Mayo Under-16 LGFA Team.
Kiltimagh Women’s Group will hold its next social evening on Monday next, February 17th, in the Park Hotel at 6pm.
Mayo Public Participation Network (PPN) is offering a comprehensive free training programme this spring for people to upskill and expand their knowledge of the regulations governing not-for-profit organisations in Mayo, and to learn how to apply for funding, manage their organisation, and promote their activities and events. All interested members to sign up for one or more of these workshops.
Mayo PPN aims to enable community organisations to articulate a diverse range of views and interests within the local government system, and to allow a diversity of voices and interests to be facilitated and involved in the decision-making process of Mayo County Council and other relevant bodies. Full details of the courses available and how to apply log on to www.mayoppn.ie.
There are a number of part-time job opportunities available for farmers in the Kiltimagh, Bohola and Midfield areas. The work involves the caretaking of community facilities, village and countryside enhancement including maintenance of walkways, assistance in the Hospice shop, and with childcare facilities.
The vacancies are open through the Rural Social Scheme. Participants on the scheme work nineteen and half hours a week.
Anyone interested is asked to contact the supervisor for the area, Caroline Cotter on 087-2107385 or by calling into the Mayo North East Leader Partnership office on Aiden Street.
The death has occurred of Joyce Gentle (nee Chapman) Ballinamore House, Kiltimagh, and formerly of Letchworth, Herts, England.
Joyce died peacefully in the company of her loving daughter Diane. She was predeceased by her husband John and her sister Sylvia.
Joyce will be sadly missed by her daughter Diane, Salthill, Galway and her son Mark, Melbourne, Australia, her son-in-law Eamon, daughter-in-law Karen, and by her seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, as well as her many cousins, nephews, nieces, neighbours and friends.
A Funeral Service for Joyce was held on Thursday, February 6th, in the Church of Ireland Parish Church, Market Square, Foxford.
May she rest in peace.
Pauline Curtin-Higgins, who died on January 5th at Garnet Health Medical Centre in Wallkill, New York, was the widow of Jim Higgins of Kiltimagh.
Originally from Mountcollins, County Limerick, Pauline was predeceased by her husband Jim, and is survived by her children, Geraldine Kenny and her husband John, James Higgins and his wife Suzanne, Lisa Bohr and her husband Brian and Michelle Reddington and her husband Michael (all resident in the USA) and her brother-in-law, Mick Higgins of Kiltimagh.
Jim and Pauline ran the very successful Candy Corner business on Main Street before they moved to the USA. Pauline was laid to rest in St Mary’s Cemetery, Washingtonville, NY after Funeral Mass at the nearby St Mary’s Church.
May she rest in peace.
