Memories of Belfast

In May 1967, I was back at the Opera House, on stage this time in Synge’s “The Playboy of the Western World”, at the Ulster Drama Final. The Drama Circle travelled to Belfast on Friday afternoon, unloading our stage set that night, which had been designed by Br. Columban for the stage in the Town Hall. The plan was for an early set-up on the Saturday, then the bonus of watching the FA Cup Final with perfect TV reception. (Tottenham Hotspur beat Chelsea 2-1)

In the morning, we had to scupper the plan – our prize set looked like a doll’s house on the expanse of the Opera House stage. So much for the best laid plans! We laboured all day, climbing 14FT ladders to hang extra black stage drapes that the obliging Opera House crew dug out of dusty overhead galleries. It was “all hands on deck” to brush clean the little used drapes. Into what seemed a boundless stage of black, we nestled the “shebeen” of Michael James.

That night, the stage opened in darkness to the cry of the curlew and a plaintive tin whistle, and as the scene lit slowly, the huge stage became the barren landscape of west Mayo. Before Pegeen Mike spoke the first word, applause erupted from all over the auditorium, and I knew we were on our way. Later, the play won 1st at the festival, and the “shebeen” won the award for best set. When Walter Mc Donagh, the director, collected the cup, we all felt like the Heroes of the Western World!

The final night festival revelry was held in the new UTV Studios, hosted by the Northern Ireland Milk Board, milk and tea (with milk) the only beverage on offer, and not a drop of the customary Champagne for the cup! Would it go home to Sligo dry? But it was a very friendly, very fashionable and very formal occasion, full of goodwill for the night’s winners.

The Sligo group joined this smart gathering, somewhat like the stage peasants they had just been performing, and were now out in their Sunday Best! Joan Gallagher the exception – she had spent the journey to Belfast making a dress for this party. That night a stunning “Twiggy” like creation was revealed to give the Westerners some “Bohemian” chic!

A moment on the side that night was an overheard remark between two stylish ladies on seeing our winning set designer, Bro. Columban, in his Marist garb: “Why do they always have to have one of them along?” The May night was not for the fur coats, but that pair were sure to have them at home! Looking back, the clerical attire was a bit severe, but maybe Bro. Columban wanted to fly another flag.

Later, at the small hotel the Circle had booked for the weekend, the group discovered that Belfast had gone dry! After some persuasion, not a lot, the landlord uncorked the Champagne and the party commenced. The drink was flowing, the sing-song was high when two passing RUC Constables were attracted to this unaccustomed carousing in the Sabbatical calm of Belfast.

They arrived into the party fully armed, as “warriors into the breach”. With persuasion and the sniff of a drink, they joined in the fun, one of them even performing a party piece! To quote Michael James from the “Playboy”, “the peelers in this place is decent, droughty poor fellows”.

A decade or so later, the old Opera House was gone, as was the small hotel; and as for the two policemen, who knows, after their night out with the “Fenians”. Some time in the mid nineties Michael showed me where the hotel once stood, but all of that was then in a terrible future.

The next day, or the “morning after” for some, we found the city had closed down. No shops or pubs could be found open, and a few badly needed the “cure”, while others searched for the lewd Sunday papers to shock back home. All morning, church bells rang out over the city in competitive calls to worship.

Doomsday threatened from street hoardings and lampposts, one could almost hear the thumping cant of the city Belfast had put on its black, dour look.By afternoon, everyone was glad to pile into Joe O’ Brien’s homeward bound bus. In the annals of the Sligo Drama Circle, it was a weekend to cherish and remember, somewhat like the St. Louis trip 22 years later.

Some post-scripts to the weekend:

• That night in the Opera House, Walter Mc Donagh, the play’s director, also played the part of Michael James – a short-notice call, when George Molloy moved to Waterford.
• On the Saturday morning going to the theatre, I nipped into a small book store and purchased Edna O’ Brien’s “The Country Girls”, then banned and damned everywhere south of Belfast. Bible thumping was not a confined practice!
• That night in the Opera House, the Drama Circle played to its largest audience ever – the capacity was between 500-600 and the “Full House” sign was up from early in the day. This record still stands!

Joe Meehan has been a member of Sligo Drama Circle from its earliest years and has been intimately involved in its activities since then