‘Just the beginning’
The cultural landscape of Glanmire is set for a significant addition this month as the newly formed Glanmire Players theatre group prepares to take its first bow.
The group will stage the popular Irish comedy, ‘It’s The Real McCoy’, at Riverstown National School from 9-11 April.
The initiative was spearheaded by local resident Eleanor O’Kelly-Lynch, who felt there was a clear gap in the local social scene. Following an appeal for interest through the Glanmire Area newsletter and online community platforms, the response was immediate.
“Glanmire Players really started from a simple idea – something was missing in Glanmire in terms of community theatre,” said O’Kelly-Lynch, who now serves as Chair of the group.
“I put out the call on the Glanmire Area newsletter and the Mums of Glanmire platform.
“The interest was immediate and enthusiastic, which showed there was a real appetite for it in the area. Twenty-five people made contact and we all met in September last year.”
The group has since settled into a close-knit family of passionate members, handling everything from acting to set construction and backstage logistics. To ensure a professional standard for their debut, the group enlisted the help of well-known actor and director Ciaran Bermingham during the early stages of development.
O’Kelly-Lynch noted the diversity of the group has been one of its strongest assets.
“We now have around 20 people actively involved, both on stage and behind the scenes. We wanted to create something inclusive – somewhere people of all ages and backgrounds could get involved,” she explains.
Starting a theatre company from scratch brought its share of logistical hurdles, but O’Kelly-Lynch insists the effort has been its own reward.
“The most rewarding part has been seeing people come together, forming friendships, and building something from nothing. Watching confidence grow, especially in people who might never have been on stage before, has been really special.
“The biggest challenge has probably been starting from scratch, finding space and managing all the logistics, but it’s all part of the journey and the fun.”
For their inaugural production, the group settled on Tommy Marren’s ‘It’s The Real McCoy’, a staple of the Irish amateur drama circuit. The choice was praised by Tadhg O'Keeffe of the Glen Theatre in Banteer.
“After we’d short-listed ‘It’s the Real McCoy’ and chosen it, Tadhg from the Glen Theatre, Banteer said, ‘That’s a good choice for three reasons. It’s funny, it has emotional depth and it’s got a great storyline.’ And with 30 years of drama under their belt, who’d know better? So, we felt we’d chosen a winner,” O’Kelly-Lynch says.
The production is directed by Catriona O’Gorman and features an entirely local cast. Despite the inevitable opening-night nerves, the feeling within the troupe is one of positive high-energy and electric anticipation.
“There’s a great buzz – definitely a few nerves, but mostly excitement,” says O’Kelly-Lynch.
“Everyone has worked so hard, and we’re really looking forward to sharing it with an audience.”
While this week’s performances mark the group’s official arrival, the Glanmire Players are already looking at the road ahead. The ambition is to move theatre out of traditional settings and into the daily lives of residents.
“This is just the beginning,” said O’Kelly-Lynch.
“We hope to build something long-term for the community – more productions for sure and, we want to bring stories into the community in all sorts of different ways – into pubs, cafes, schools, and the outdoors. Everyone loves a bit of drama, don’t they?”
‘It’s The Real McCoy’ runs at Riverstown National School from 9-11 April, sponsored by Elevate Credit Union. For bookings, call 087-2773737 or 086-3826922.