The Performing Arts
in Newry and Mourne
25th March 2013 28th February 2014
Réamhrá an Mhéara
Tá an-áthas orm réamhrá an leabhráin seo a scríobh, leabhrán a ghabhann leis an taispeántas sealadach de chuid Iarsmalann an Iúir agus Mhúrn, “Na Taibh- Ealaíona i gCeantar an Iúir agus Mhúrn”
Cíorann an taispeántas forbairt na dtaibh-ealaíon sa cheantar ón 18ú aois go dtí an lá atá inniu ann agus na príomhchumainn agus na daoine a raibh baint acu leis an fhás seo.
Is soiléir ón taispeántas uilig go mbíonn grá mór don cheol, don drámaíocht agus do na healaíona fud fad an Iúir agus Mhúrn agus deimhníonn líon na ngrúpaí amharclainne, ceoldrámaíochta agus córúla an paisean seo.
Is fíor é go mbaineann ard chéatadán de mhuintir na háite, a bhfuil bua na healaíona acu, clú agus cáil náisiúnta amach dóibh féin de thoradh ar dhíograis na gcumann amaitéarach agus a dtiomántas do chaighdeáin ghairmiúla sa cheantar.
Arís eile d’fhreagair muintir an Iúir agus Mhúrn d’achainí na hIarsmalainne chun déantáin, cáipéisí agus cuimhní cinn a thabhairt dúinn agus ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leo siúd a sholáthraigh na rudaí seo chomh fial fláithiúil.
Ba mhaith liom tréaslú d’fhoireann na hIarsmalainne as an obair a rinne siad chun an taispeántas seo agus an leabhrán ildaite, fáisnéiseach seo a chur i dtoll le chéile, rud a chuireas inár gcuimhne cé chomh beo bríomhar is atá saol cultúrtha na háite seo.
Comhairleoir John McArdle
Méara Chomhairle an Iúir agus Mhúrn
Mayor’s Foreword
I am delighted to write the forward to this booklet which accompanies “The Performing Arts in Newry and Mourne”, a temporary exhibition at Newry and Mourne Museum.
The exhibition examines the development of performing arts in the area from the 18th century to the present day and the key societies and personalities associated with this growth.
What is clearly highlighted throughout the display is the huge passion for music, drama and arts throughout Newry and Mourne and the large number of theatrical groups, operatic and choral societies are testament to this.
The fact that such a high percentage of our local talent go on to achieve national and international stardom is due to the commitment of these amateur societies and their dedication to achieving professional standards locally.
Once again the people of Newry and Mourne have responded to the Museum’s appeals for artefacts, documents and memories and I would like to thank all those contributed so generously.
I would like to congratulate the staff of Newry and Mourne Museum for developing the exhibition and this colourful and informative booklet, which reminds us of the vibrant cultural life we have in this area.
Councillor John McArdle Mayor, Newry and Mourne District Council
Introduction
By the mid 18th century Newry had become a prosperous merchant town with an emerging mercantile class who had an interest in the arts, education and culture.
Early performances of music and drama in the town were by visiting companies such as the Smock Alley Players from Dublin and troupes from Belfast. The famous composer G.F. Handel reputedly gave a concert in Newry during his trip to Ireland in 1741–1742.
The first purpose built theatre in Newry, known as the New Theatre in High Street, opened in 1769. A second theatre was opened in Hill Street by the actor Thomas Betterton in 1783. This was frequented by ‘genteel, dressy’ young men who belonged to the Snug Club in Castle Street, under the leadership of Isaac Corry, MP for Newry. Both theatres were also supported by the Freemasons who held benefit performances for distressed Freemasons.
Interest in drama and the arts continued throughout the 19th century and local amateur drama and music groups began to emerge in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of these were established in response to the influence of the Gaelic League such as the Lislea Players which emerged in 1904. Many other groups including the Bessbrook Players, Hilltown Players and Burren Dramatic Club were active at this time as were Newry Amateur Operatic Society and Mr. Gilholy’s Choral Society.
Against this background of a vibrant local interest in participating in the performing arts Newry Musical Feis was established in 1928. The Feis gave many people their first experience of performing on stage.
An early dramatic production, c.1900 Courtesy of Charlie Smyth Features Mrs Annie Sloan (nee Short) and James Canavan, extreme right. A famous local actor in the early part of the 20th century, the Canavan Room in the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre is named after James Canavan.
Cabinet Card c.1900 Newry and Mourne Museum Collection Rostrevor Dramatic Company in costume for one of their productions.
The 1930s and 1940s saw a number of developments in the performing arts in the area. Pantomimes, under the direction of P.J. McKay, became an annual event and a number of societies emerged including Newry Musical and Orchestral Society, Newpoint Players and Kilkeel Dramatic Society.
Highly popular variety shows held in Newry Town Hall, under the direction of Pat McKevitt, provided a platform for local artistes to share the stage with national stars such as James Johnson, a Belfast tenor who sang at Covent Garden. Irish comedians such as Jimmy O’Dea and Jack Cruise also entertained British and American troops in the Town Hall, Newry.
The 1950s saw the emergence of showbands which developed out of dance bands. There were a number of famous showbands in the Newry and Mourne area. The Hilton Showband, originally the Rhythm Aces, which included Mickey Doran who played the guitar and Eleanor Toner, the female vocalist was set up in 1962. Over the next ten years they toured Britain, Ireland and the United States.
Support for local drama and musical societies continued, in spite of the increasing popularity of television in the 1960s. The early years of the Troubles impacted negatively on the local arts scene, but optimism prevailed. This culminated when the first purpose built Arts Centre in Northern Ireland opened in 1982, adjacent to Newry Town Hall.
Newry Musical Feis and the local performing arts scene have nurtured many local talents, some of whom have gone on to excel at national and international levels.
P.J. McKay, c.1930
Courtesy of Mary Goss
P.J. McKay pictured with his Irish Dancing trophies. He established an Irish Dancing School in 1931 when he was 15, and went on to produce pantomimes in Newry Town Hall and shows at the Empire Theatre in Belfast.
St. Louis Grammar School Girls Choir, Kilkeel, 1946
Courtesy of Catherine Hudson
School choirs and drama groups have made a vital contribution to the performing arts in the Newry and Mourne area over the years and have been keen competitors in local competitions and festival.
St. Louis Girls Choir were prize winners at Newcastle Feis in 1946.
Pat McKevitt, c.1940s Newry and Mourne Museum Collection
Pat McKevitt was involved with wartime entertainment and produced variety shows in Newry Town Hall during the late 1940s and 1950s.
Contributors
Articles from local people involved in the performing arts form the central part of this booklet. They give a unique and informative insight into the groups and personalities who have been instrumental in the growth and development of the performing arts in Newry and Mourne. The contributors are:
Charlie Smyth
President of Newry Drama Festival and Director of Newry Panto Players, Charlie has had a lifetime experience of treading the boards since his first stage appearance at Newry Musical Feis in 1940. Charlie is also Honorary Vice-President of Newry Musical Society and was a former Chairman of Newry and Mourne District.
Gerry McNulty
A former principal of St. Colman’s Abbey Primary School, Gerry has been Chairman of the Newry and Mourne Arts Committee, Newry Musical Society and currently, Newry Drama Festival. He has been involved in designing and painting scenery for most of the theatrical groups in Newry, and for more than 20 years was the set designer for Newry Musical Society.
Dr. Mary Goss
Mary Goss has been a member of the Newry Feis Committee for thirty years and has held the role of Administrator on that Committee since 1997 when she succeeded Mrs Alma Brown. She has been Honorary Secretary of the Northern Ireland Festivals Forum (NIFF) since 2005 and, with her
NIFF colleagues, plays an active role in supporting the work of all British and International Federation Festivals in Northern Ireland.
Eileen Mooney
Eileen has been Honorary Secretary of Newry Drama Festival since 1977. For a number of years she was on the executive of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland and from 2007 2009 was the Chairperson of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland.
Eugene Hannaway
Eugene who died in 2010, was involved with Lislea Dramatic Players as an actor and producer for 60 years. He was hugely important to the development of Lislea Drama Festival. In the 1960s he was a member of the Abbey Players in Newry and a founder member of the Sylvain Players in the 1980s. He also produced Celtic Musical Dramas with Comhaltas in Newry and Ring of Gullion. A former principal, he was instrumental in the success of St Peter’s Primary School, Cloughreagh, at the All Ireland Scoil Dramaiochta.
Newpoint Clubrooms, Canal Street, Newry, 1955
Courtesy of Charlie Smyth Includes Patrick Carey, Nancie Murphy, Owen Mooney, Tony Wilson and David Hannon. These people were important to the development of Newpoint Players as committee members, actors and producers.
Sean Canavan and Charlie Smyth in a pantomime production of Dick Whittington
Courtesy of Charlie Smyth
The late Sean Canavan was Charlie Smyth’s mentor in the early years of his stage career. They appeared together in many local productions and were known as “Newry’s Morecambe and Wise”.
Mrs Alma Brown (standing) and Miss Ethel Fitzpatrick (seated), 2002 Courtesy of Mary Goss
Both these ladies have been highly influential in many aspects of the performing arts in Newry and Mourne over the years.
Showband Poster, c.1960 Newry and Mourne Museum Collection Advertising a dance in Warrenpoint Town Hall with music by Joe Savage and his band.
A lifetime on the local stage
_ Charlie Smyth
My first memory of performing on stage was singing at Newry Musical Feis in Newry Town Hall in 1940. I was a member of a choir from St. Joseph’s Convent of Mercy School. The conductor was Kathleen McCoy and the song was ‘A Buttermilk Cow’. The following year, as a pupil of the Abbey Primary School, I performed a recitation at a variety concert which marked Bishop Mulhern’s Silver Jubilee. When I was 13 I played the part of Fagan in an excerpt from Oliver Twist. Sean Canavan was the producer and he entered it in the junior section of the then Drama Festival. I was fortunate to win Best Actor.
During World War II I have memories of some great artists appearing at Newry Town Hall. They included Jimmy O’Dea, Edgar Bannin ‘Bamboozlin’, Agnew McMaster, Jack Cruise and singing at one of Joseph Guinane’s concerts the world famous tenor, James Johnston. At a later stage I had the privilege of introducing him at a concert in Camlough. He received a standing ovation for his rendition of ‘The Boys from the County Armagh’.
By the end of War there were six dramatic societies in Newry, Newpoint Players, Newry Abbey Players, the Stage Society, Newry Drama Players, Colmcille Players and the Iveagh Players. I joined Newpoint Players in 1951 and my first show was Charley’s Aunt which ran that Christmas for one week at Newry Town Hall. A highlight was 1958
when Newpoint won the premier award at the All Ireland Drama Festival with their production of George Bernard Shaw’s play Arms and the Man. Directed by Mary Andress this was a first for Newry.
Around this time I became involved in pantomimes with Sean Canavan. We were following in the footsteps of P.J. McKay who produced pantomimes in Newry during and just after the War.
Newry Musical and Orchestral Society became a great part of my life on the local stage. In 1951 I made my debut as a principal in The Maid of the Mountains opposite that great lady of the stage in Newry, Ethel Fitzpatrick. I have continued to play roles in the Society’s productions until recently. 1976 was a highlight for the Society and myself when at the international Festival of Light Opera at Waterford we won the premier award and I won the award for Best Comedian.
This was a busy time in the drama scene as I was also a member of Cloghogue and Camlough Drama Societies and producing plays with Glenn Dramatic Society.
Top Talent Contests were very popular in Newry in the late 1950s. The town was divided into about five areas and they competed against one another at St. Colman’s Parochial Hall. It was as good as the X Factor. There was a keen demand for tickets and a lot of rivalry between the areas.
The Newpoint Players’ production of Macbeth, 1954 Courtesy of Charlie Smyth
Traditionally an “unlucky” play, this production led to a dispute with Newry Urban Council, because a “blood” stain had been found on the stage of the Town Hall. The Council brought an action against Newpoint Players for 10 shillings compensation for damages to the front of the stage. Charlie Smyth played the Porter in this production.
In the late 1960s I was compere at the Finn McCool Banquets which were held at the Ardmore Hotel on a Saturday night. An Irish themed dinner was followed by a cabaret of top class artists such as Frank Carson, James Young, Josef Locke, Bridie Gallagher, Eileen Donaghy and Gloria Hunniford.
Times were very bleak in Newry during the 1970s. Paddy O’Hagan, who was Clerk of Council, asked me to put on a show in Newry to raise people’s spirits. So I said I would do a pantomime with the Glenn Youth Club in Newry Town Hall. I have run an annual pantomime ever since and enjoyed every one of them.
Charlie Smyth in a production of Oliver!, 1986 Courtesy of Charlie Smyth Fagan in Oliver! was one of Charlie Smyth’s favourite roles. He is pictured here in Newry Musical and Orchestral Society’s 1986 production with Gary Moan as The Artful Dodger, Patrick Donnelly as Oliver and David Quigley as Charlie Bates.
The Newpoint Players production of George Bernard Shaw’s production of Arms and the Man, 1958
Courtesy of Charlie Smyth
Photograph shows Liam O’Callaghan as Major Sergius Saranoff, Owen Mooney as The Man and Charlie Smyth as Major Paul Petkoff.
Charlie Smyth and Thelma Spallen as Boniface and Marcelle in Hotel Paradiso, 1970 Courtesy of Charlie Smyth
This production was staged to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Newpoint Players and was directed by Gerda Redlich.
Newry Musical Society
A Memoir _ Gerry McNulty
Musical and operatic societies in Newry, from as far back as the beginning of the 20th century, have embraced various forms of musical theatre and have left a legacy which is continued today by the current members of Newry Musical Society.
The present Society evolved directly out of a choir formed jointly in 1943 by Tommy Kelly, the organist and choir master of St. Catherine’s Dominican Church and Tony McAlinden. The Columban Hall, now the site of Kehoe’s Garage in Patrick Street, provided the venue for the group’s first public performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’.
The Society, at that time, was much inclined to productions of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and the first show to be presented in Newry Town Hall in 1946 was The Mikado. The cast included the great Newry soprano Nuala Neary, and other well-known actors such as Jimmy Canavan, Kathleen Bell and Mary Tinney who later became Irish Ambassador to Sweden.
The first show was a great success and, for the next few years, the better known Savoy operas were staged with well-known cast members such as George McKee, Wesley Livingstone, Michael Mathers and Heather Caldwell.
In 1951 a radical change in policy saw the Newry Musical Society enter the field of musical comedy with a production of The Maid of the Mountains. In 1952, the show was Rose Marie with a new musical
The cast of The Yeomen of the Guard on the stage of Newry Town Hall, 1948 Courtesy of Eleanor Darbyshire This production included Livy Armstrong as ‘Jack Point’ (standing in Jester’s costume), and Nuala Neary (sitting). Kathleen Bell had her first major part in this production.
director, August Toremans, a position he held with distinction until his death in 1995.
The early 1960s proved a difficult time for the Society but teamwork prevailed and shows went on. It was during this period that I joined the Society and worked with Mary McKee painting the scenery. The backstage crew had no permanent home and we got used to creating sets in many cold and desolate venues around the town.
During The Troubles, the Society managed to stay together and came back with a bang in 1973 with Oklahoma! The following year the Chairman, Charlie Smyth, proposed the employment of Ray Jeffery as a professional producer. Under his direction the Society achieved one of its proudest moments when, in 1976, it won the International Premier Award at the Waterford Festival of Light Opera. The following years saw the Society win
many production and staging awards. In 1979, Fiddler on the Roof was another International Award Winner and marked another milestone in the Society’s history.
Since then, shows as diverse as Hello Dolly, Carousel, 42nd Street and The Sound of Music have joined the repertoire. Many performers and chorus members have come and gone but there is still a strong nucleus of ‘old stalwarts’ like David Cunningham, Anne Keenan, Donal Fegan and myself who give generously of their time and talent to present the annual spectaculars. The Society is still at the top and a force to be reckoned with in the world of musical comedy.
Programme Newry and Mourne Museum Collection From a 1985 production by Newry Musical and Orchestral Society.
Backstage at a Newry Musical Society Concert in Newry Town Hall in the late 1950s
Newry and Mourne Museum Collection
Front row (left to right): Elaine Keenan, Patsy Bradley, Mary Carroll, Sally McManus. Back row (left to right): Mavis Stephens, Kay Delahunt, Marie McGuigan, Beene McAteer.
Programme
Courtesy of Gerry McNulty
The Gypsy Baron has been performed by Newry Musical and Orchestral Society on several occasions. This programme is from the 1964 production.
The Development and Growth of Newry Musical Feis
Dr. Mary Goss
Festivals providing opportunities for performance in Music, Dance and Speech first emerged in the British Isles during the 1870s. The first Feis Ceoil competitions were held in Dublin in 1897. Other developments included Ireland’s first dancing Feis held in Macroom, Co Cork in 1899 and a Feis in Sligo which began in 1903.
In the north of Ireland many festivals were emerging. These included Newcastle Feis (founded 1902), Belfast Musical Festival (1908), Coleraine Music Festival (1909) and Ballymena Festival (1916). The early 1920s saw the emergence of Portadown Festival Association (1922), Féis Dhoíre Cholmcílle (1922) and Carrickfergus Music Festival (1923).
It was against this background, and due to the inspiration of the editor of The Newry Reporter, Mr E.P. Northwood, with the backing of the newspaper’s owner, Mr Edward Hodgett J.P., that Newry Musical Feis was established in September 1928. An organising committee and officers were elected at an inaugural meeting held on 19th September 1928 and the first Feis opened at Newry Town Hall on 8th April 1929 and offered three days of Music competitions with a fourth day divided into two sessions of Verse and one session of Folk Dancing. There were an estimated 925 competitors.
The number of competitors continued to grow in the following years and by 1936 there were ten days of competition with excellent standards being achieved across all disciplines.
During World War II, Newry Musical Feis continued to be held. In his opening speech in 1941, Mr David Ferris, President and Chairman, said: “In these terrible days of world upheaval there are many difficulties to be encountered… but in the face of all this the Committee decided to carry on…”
At that time the amateur dramatic productions were of a particularly high standard. In 1946, the verse adjudicator, Marjorie Lyon, stressed the outstanding quality of the work. Many of the young stars, including Ethel Fitzpatrick, Kathleen O’Donnell, Irwin Major and Michael Mathers, have maintained a lifelong association with the Feis.
The development and success of Newry Musical Feis has been made possible by the consistency ensured through the professionalism and dedication of its long-serving office-bearers and Committee members. The Feis quickly developed strong foundations and an enviable reputation due to the exceptional efforts of Harry Heather and P.J. Walker. Their unstinting efforts to obtain the services of the most respected adjudicators and their constant presence in key roles for over thirty years, set a standard that inspired both those who worked alongside them and those who were destined to carry on the work. From the outset some gifted performers went on to teach and to enter students themselves; others gave generously of their time to Committee work and Section administration.
Other individuals giving in excess of 50 years service include the current Chairperson Alma Brown who succeeded Harry Heather as General Secretary and Music Secretary in 1961 and Kevin Neary who, having already served as Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer for 26 years, was elected President in 1971, an office he was to hold for a further 30 years.
Newry Musical Feis has continued to grow and develop in the 21st century. A Ballet and Theatre Dance Section was added in 2002. In 2006 Newry Credit Union pledged annual support to the Feis as its main sponsor. By that time Newry Musical Feis was facilitating in excess of 14,000 performances across a 39 day programme. In 2007 the Feis was granted Major Event status by Newry and Mourne District Council.
Newry Musical Feis Committee, 1930 Newry and Mourne Museum Collection
Front row (left to right): Mr Matt McAteer, Mr Hugh J. McConville, Miss N. Gordon and Mr Hal Glyn (adjudicator?).
Back row (left to right): Mrs. J.H. Collins, Mr Harry Heather and Miss Erskine
Harry Heather
Courtesy of Margaret Wilson
A leading light in local music circles, Harry Heather was the Secretary of Newry Musical Feis from 1929-1960. He was the accompanist at various local variety shows and also had his own dance band. He died in 1962.
August Toremans
Courtesy of Gerald McNulty
The late August Toremans, taught music at the Sacred Heart Grammar School and, in 1952, became the musical director of the Newry Light Orchestra which accompanied performances by Newry Musical and Orchestral Society. He was also organist at St. Catherine’s Church in Newry.
A Rehearsal of James Canavan’s production of the trial scene from The Merchant of Venice for the drama section of Newry Musical Feis in the early 1930s.
Courtesy of Charlie Smyth
The Story of Newry Drama Festival _
Eileen Mooney
The Newry Drama Festival owes its existence to Newry Musical Feis. In 1949 the Drama Section had become so large that a separate committee and festival was formed under the chairmanship of Mrs. J.H. Collins. Dedicated and long serving committee members have been an important feature of the Festival. Throughout its history there have only been six Chairpersons; Mrs. J.H Collins, succeeded by Mr. Petty, Dr. E.L. Wilson, Owen
Mooney, Sean Hollywood and currently, Gerald McNulty.
Quality of adjudication has also been an important trait of the Festival, often exemplified by the national and international stature of the adjudicators. In 1950 the adjudicator was the actor Cyril Cusack, followed in 1951 by Hilton Edwards, co-founder with Micheál Mac Liammóir of the Gate Theatre in Dublin.
Gerda Redlich, an Austrian by birth, was one of the favourite adjudicators, and came to Newry five
Newry Drama Festival winners, 1994 Courtesy of Newry Drama Festival
The premier award winners of the 1994 Festival were the Newpoint Players with their production of Waiting for Godot. Members of Newpoint featured include front row, second left Gareth (Eugene) O’Hare and Sean Hollywood first from right. The adjudicator was Tomás MacAnna.
times between 1954 and 1976. During one such visit, Gerda told her life story to the audience, describing how she escaped from the Nazis by skiing over the Alps.
On another occasion, in the early seventies, I remember the Festival being opened by Micheál Mac Liammóir, who due to his failing eyesight was led on to the stage by Owen Mooney. This was a tremendous honour for Newry to have this eminent actor and director opening the festival.
Other famous names included Anna Manahan, well known for her part in The Beauty Queen of Leenane, and the TV series The Irish RM, who adjudicated at the 1985 Festival. Anna stayed with me and we became very good friends and I had the pleasure of meeting Peter Bowles, the English actor, in her company.
In 1998 Newry Drama Festival suffered a great loss with the deaths of three prominent members in the space of a few months, Regina Hanratty (nee Morgan) Treasurer, Sean Hollywood, Chairman and Owen Mooney, President.
In 2004 Newry Drama Festival was invited to host The All Ireland Confined Drama Festival. This was held in Warrenpoint Town Hall and attracted full houses for the nine nights. This Festival was a huge success and is still talked about among members of the drama movement.
Another notable event took place in 2006 when, due to industrial action, the Town Hall was unavailable during one night of the Festival. The Newpoint Players staged their production of
Murder in the Cathedral in Newry Cathedral. The show played to a very appreciative packed ‘house’ and won the Festival.
Newry Drama Festival is affiliated to The Association of Ulster Drama Festivals known as AUDF and also The Amateur Drama Council of Ireland known as ADCI. The Festival attracts groups from all over Ireland and in 2012 had 14 entries.
Cast of Waiting for Godot, 1994 Courtesy of Newry Drama Festival
Newry Drama Festival Committee members, 1985
Courtesy of Newry Drama Festival
From left: Eamonn Fitzpatrick (P.R.O.), Owen Mooney (Chairman) John Lynch (Newpoint Players), Anna Manahan (Adjudicator), Rowel Friers (Guest) and Eileen Mooney (Secretary).
Lislea Dramatic Players
Adapted from an article by Eugene Hannaway with kind permission of Liam Hannaway
Emerging from a strong local tradition of music and drama, the Lislea Dramatic Players was founded by Cissie Hughes in 1940. Miss Hughes taught an Irish Dancing Class in Lislea. To finance costumes for her dancers, she and her pupils formed a drama group and staged a highly successfully concert. The opening chorus, When Irish Eyes are Smiling became the signature tune of the society until 1948, when the first full-length play was staged. Two sketches were presented on that night The Playboy and His Only Chance.
These early years were dominated by three actors who were to give a new dimension to drama in Lislea, Francis McParland, Jimmy O’Hanlon and Mickie McCann. Francis McParland is remembered by those who saw him in such diverse roles as Rabbit Hamill in the New Gassoon, Mungo in Mungo’s Mansion, Michael James in The Playboy, Father Maher in The Money Doesn’t Matter and numerous others. The leading lady of the period was Kathleen Malone who always gave a studied and refined performance.
In 1949 Lislea Dramatic Players produced Mungo’s Mansion by Walter Mackin. This was a major break. Now they were attempting drama of a stronger vein by a modern playwright and it was in this play that Eugene Hannaway made his debut. The play was entered for Newry Drama Festival that year and was awarded second place in the Rural Section.
Lislea Dramatic Players won the Premier Award at Newry Festival in 1952 with their production of The Playboy of the Western World, but few will realise that this cast included four newcomers to the stage, Betty McCann, Brian Hannaway, Henry O’Neill and Brian McCann. Excited with this success it was decided to hold a Week of Drama in Lislea during Christmas 1952. Six plays were presented – Riders to the Sea, The Workhouse Ward, The Valiant, The Shadows of the Glen, Wrecked and The Rising of the Moon.
In 1954 Eugene Hannaway became producer of the society, a position he held for many years. During the 1950s and 1960 the society had maintained a solid band of seasoned actors, but found difficulty in recruiting new actresses. This was compounded by the increasing popularity of television. However a group of young players called The Pioneer Players injected new life into local drama.
Members of the Lislea Drama Festival Committee at the launch of the Silver Jubilee Festival in 2006 Courtesy of Liam Hannaway
By 1966 Lislea Hall had reached such a state of disrepair that no plays were done until 1972 when Lislea School became available. The producer and players became involved in converting the school rooms into a small theatre. Drama was revived and Lislea Drama Festival was established in January 1982 and the school was further redeveloped c.1986. Both the Festival and local drama group are still going strong.
In 1982 the first Lislea Rural Drama Festival was hosted with the aim of furthering drama across South Armagh and South Down. In its first year there were 4 South Armagh groups and 2 Down groups. It has now developed into one of the Festivals on the All Ireland circuit and has presented shows from 17 counties in Ireland.
McCook’s Corner, 1983
Courtesy of Liam Hannaway
The Lislea Dramatic Players in their production of McCook’s Corner.
A Damsel from Dublin, 1945
Courtesy of Liam Hannaway One of the plays produced by Lislea Dramatic Players during World War II.
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to the staff and volunteers of Newry and Mourne Museum for their assistance in this exhibition and accompanying booklet:
Louise Canavan
Joanne Cummins
Alexander Cupples
Alan Freeburn
Conor Keenan
Shane McGivern
Frances Potts
Anna Savage
Dympna Tumilty
Dr. Robert Whan
We are grateful to Charlie Smyth, Gerry McNulty, Mary Goss, Eileen Mooney and Liam Hannaway (on behalf of his late father Eugene Hannaway) for contributing articles to this booklet.
We would like to thank all those who contributed to the exhibition through donations, loans, expertise or memories including:
Eleanor Darbyshire
Mary Goss
Catherine Hudson
Irwin Major
Eileen Mooney
Gerry McNulty
Rosemary Murray
Hal O’Brien
Charlie Smyth
Jacqueline Turley
Margaret Wilson
Lislea Drama Festival
Newry Musical and Orchestral Society Newry Musical Feis Committee Newry Drama Festival
Thanks also to the Northern Ireland Museums Council for the funds to conserve documents used in this exhibition.
Compiled by Noreen Cunningham, Dr. Ken Abraham and Declan Carroll.
Every effort has been made to correctly attribute photographs used in this booklet and accompanying exhibition.
Ballet and Theatre Dance Section at Newry Musical Feis, 2002
Courtesy of Mary Goss
Modern ballet and theatre dance was first added to the competitions at the Feis in 2002.
Photograph and ticket Newry and Mourne Museum Collection
The cast of The Black Squire which was performed in Newry Town Hall by the St. Patrick’s Choral and Operatic Society in 1934 and a ticket to one of the performances.
St. Patrick’s Fife and Drum Band, Kilkeel
Courtesy of Catherine Hudson
Founded in 1896, this band marched from Atticall to Brysansford in 1901 in support of an election meeting for Mr. Jeremiah McVeigh the candidate for South Down. The first bandmaster was Mr. Patrick Murphy, a band instructor to one of the regiments in the Boer War.
Newry
Featuring
Drama Festival Golden Jubilee
Courtesy of Newry Drama Festival
committee members and sponsors in March 2002. Committee members include Charlie Smyth, Violet Durkan, Eileen Mooney, Gerald McNulty and Sam Russell.
Published by: Newry and Mourne Museum
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Newry and Mourne Museum
Design: G. Watters
Newry and Mourne Museum Collection
Left to right: Eileen Rooney, Iris Hillen, Eilish Toner. Eileen Rooney went on to set up her own dancing school in Newry. Irish Dancing has always been popular in Newry and other schools include Fegan, Fox, Murtagh and Nolan Schools.
Irish dancers at Newry Musical Feis in the late 1940s
