Thespian Maurice lights the Torch for every one of the Players' 50 years in Limerick

IT WAS a lucky day for the arts in Limerick when Maurice O’Sullivan arrived from Listowel in 1967, bringing with him the love of literature and drama that is as much a part of the Kerry town as the air they breathe.

In the early 1970s, Maurice, with wonderful assistance from Brendan Nash, began producing pantomimes and one act plays as Gaeilge with students at the School of Commerce (now Limerick College of Further Education) in Mulgrave Street. 

They went on to win the Feile Scoildramaiochta Naisuinta in 1972 and 1975 and when these talented students left school in the mid-70s, Aisteoiri Scoil na Tractala evolved into the Torch Players.

Fast forward to 2026 and the Torch Players are celebrating their 50th birthday with a production of Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa. Maurice, who lit the torch for every one of those 50 years as founder and chairman, directs the play.

It runs from Tuesday, March 10 to Saturday, March 14 in the Belltable  hich is fitting as they were one of the first Drama Groups to perform in the Belltable when it opened in 1981 and have performed there at least once a year since then. Tickets available online.

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Many of their players and crew won major awards at drama festivals throughout the country including resident director Maurice who won over 40 Best Director accolades. At the All-Ireland finals in Athlone the late Des Ronan won Best Actor in 1986, the late Mary Harvey won Best Actress in 1988 and the late John Butler won Best Supporting Actor in 1989. The group also won Best Stage Management in Athlone in 2000.

Other players who won numerous Awards were Assumpta Wallace, Brian Kelly, Paul McCarthy, Trish Kielthy, Joe Portley, Ann Moriarty, Cathal Costelloe, Sinead Fahy, Chris Rowley and the late Criostoir O’Griofa, Daithi O’Conaill and Tony Portley.

Maurice said that on the technical side it is fair to say that without the numerous talents of Brendan Nash, the Torch Players would not have survived its infancy. 

“Michael Liston and the late Michael McKenna were also stalwarts in those early days. In the seventies and eighties we were very fortunate to have the talents of Sean Keating, Willie Ambrose and Mike Sheils who is still our invaluable set builder. 

“Up to recently we had the incomparable Bart Kiely and his team which consisted of Bobby Nash, Pa Buckley and Johnny Corr. We are also indebted to Gerry Lombard, Miia Satama, Pius McGrath, Justin Dunne, Hanora Hartnett, Sheenagh Murphy,” said Maurice.

Over the past 10 to 15 years Torch Players have attracted many new actors and backstage crew which has breathed new life into their productions and ensures its future is in safe hands.

Maurice could tell a million and one stories but one that springs to mind is their eventful performance at the West Cork Festival in Rossmore in 1986.

Maurice and lighting man, Joe, set off from Limerick at around 9am. They arrived around noon after a number of wrong turns - there was no Google Maps in those days.

“We set to work immediately on the lighting before the set arrived which was scheduled for about 1pm. So 1pm, 3pm, and  pm went by and no trace of Michael who was transporting the set. There were no mobiles phones in those days so we rang his mother in Limerick who told us that he left home about 10am! 

“It is now 6 pm and the cast, who are coming by bus, should be here shortly but we have no set and no means of communication with Michael. Eventually he cooly saunters into the hall about 6.15pm to say he can only get within 500 yards of the hall as the road in front of the hall is closed off because of the West Cork Car Rally,” recalled Mauriced.

 On enquiring why he was so late, he said he got a puncture.

“When I say a puncture could not take that long to fix he responds with ‘I had to have my dinner didn’t I!’” 

“We now have the bigger problem of how to get the set onto the stage, so with the help of some very willing committee members we raced across several fields and ditches between the hall and where the car and trailer was parked. Obviously if there was a prize for the fastest set erection we would have won it. Sadly there was no prize for this aspect of theatre,” said Maurice with a smile. 

However, they did win Best Director, Best Actor and the West Cork Festival!