Hottest tickets going aren’t in Prague, they're in Limerick for new drama group’s plays!

THE HOTTEST tickets in Ireland at the moment aren’t in Prague for the World Cup play-off between Ireland and Czechia - they are in Limerick!

The early birds have caught the worms when it comes to Lanahrone Players’ production of three short plays this weekend as they have sold out.

A love of theatre and her local community motivated Corbally woman Oonagh Kirby to go about setting up a new drama group.  

With fellow Corbally woman Eilín Mulcahy on board, and an early commitment from Rebecca Barry of the College Players, to direct their first production, the seeds of a drama group in Corbally began to sprout. More good luck followed the group, when Margaret Hough, guest director, was also welcomed on board!

Following kitchen table meetings with a few more interested people, a decision to affiliate with the Drama League of Ireland was taken and Lanahrone Players was established. 

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The group chose the name, Lanahrone Players, after the old mansion ‘Lanahrone House’ which was situated on the land of Lanahrone, now known as the Irish Estates. The word Lanahrone derives from the Irish Oileán na Róin, or the island of seals, and the group’s logo of a seal was drawn by artist and group member Ellen Harrold. 

The primary aim of Lanahrone Players is to give a platform to local actors, directors and writers. The plan is to give people of some, little or no experience, an opportunity to participate in making theatre at their level. It has been a steep learning curve, but the founding members have been heartened by the encouragement and support of established drama groups in the city. 

On Friday, February 27, the Lanahrone Players local community drama group, was formally launched at and with the generous support of Hook & Ladder, Corbally. The event was organised by group treasurer and social media strategist Jo O’ Brien and fundraising / PR officer Claire Connolly Kelly. 

Callum McCarthy, singer/guitar player warmed up the crowd with some great tunes. Guest speaker Cllr Shane Hickey-O’Mara, who has a strong background in theatre, gave a warm, heartfelt speech encouraging the group to follow their dreams.

Speeches were interspersed with a fun raffle, prizes for which were kindly donated by SuperValu, Musgraves and local individuals. An attendance of around 100 showed the level of interest.

Lanahrone Players are staging their inaugural production of three short plays on this Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28 at the Gaff, Edward Street. They are both sold out due to high demand.

The Gaff is a resource for community arts in Limerick, and the new drama group is extremely grateful for the practical support and encouragement they received from Gaff board members Pádhraic Hastings and Monica Spencer. 

Corbally actors Ger Downes, Ellen Harold, Oonagh Kirby, Colum McInerney, Mary O’Sullivan and Eilín Mulcahy will be joined by Helen Christie and Caitríona Stack of the College Players in the upcoming plays: Fourteen by Alice Gerstenberg and directed by Margaret Hough; Crime by Janet S Tiger and directed by Rebecca Barry and What would I do without you by Eilín Mulcahy/Directed by Rebecca Barry.