Sligo Cultural Weekend in Dublin

Members of Sligo Drama Circle, already in rehearsals for their Summer Season 1973 have a particularly busy few weeks ahead of them just now. On Thursday of this week (May 17th) the group plays host to the Ballina Players who present “The Patrick Pearse Motel” in Summerhill College, Sligo. This modern satirical comedy of the Ireland of the 1970’s, written by Hugh Leonard (of “Me Mammy” fame) is brought to Sligo by the efforts of Bro. Columban, who in his days in St. John’s School in Sligo brought many awards to that school. Anyone interested in theatre in Sligo should support this venture.

On Saturday, May 19th, Sligo Drama Circle goes to Ballina in return to perform Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” which the group performed for festivals earlier in the year. On the following weekend the Circle take part in the annual Sligo Cultural weekend in Dublin. Initiated last year by the Sligo Association, Dublin, the purpose of the project is to give Dublin audiences an opportunity to experience some aspects of Sligo culture and to draw attention to the progress being achieved in his field by Sligo Drama Circle and the Yeats Society. It is sponsored by North West Tourism.

On Saturday, May 26th, at 7.45pm, Sligo Drama Circle presents “Of Mice and Men” at the O’ Connell School Hall, North Richmond Street following the Official Opening of the weekend by Christopher Fitzsimon, Head of Entertainment, Bord Fáilte. On Sunday, May 27th, again at 7.45pm, the Circle present “A Speckled Shin” – a miscellany of entertainment from the Yeats Country, in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin. This will feature Yeats poetry, dramatic extracts, traditional music, Irish dancing and song and a very strong array of talent has been assembled to provide what should prove to be a most varied and interesting evening. Also in the Gresham Hotel will be an exhibition of paintings by Bernard Mc Donagh. the “Weekend” will be officially closed by Senator Michael Yeats.

Meanwhile, the Circle has commenced work on the Summer Season Programme. Producer Padraig Foran has rehearsals well under way for his production of “The Country Boy” by John Murphy which opens the season on June 26th. Productions to follow include Shaw’s “Arms and the Man” and Donagh Mc Donagh’s “Step-in-the-Hollow” directed by Joe Meehan and Lionel Gallagher respectively. Walter Mc Donagh, as usual, will be in charge of the presentation of Yeats plays in conjunction with the Summer School and this year has chosen “The Cat and the Moon” and “On Baile’s Strand”.

 from The Sligo Champion, February 23rd, 1973