Moat Club

What a lovely event today at Naas Library and Cultural Centre, where we celebrated some anniversaries - 100 years of Kildare Library Services, 100 years since the first census of the Irish Free State, and 150 years since the John Devoy-engineered Catalpa rescue.

Kildare Library Services invited the Moat Club to bring to life some of the people enumerated in Kildare in that first census of 1926. It was a moving and informative piece, and very well received. Well done to everyone involved!

Writer/researcher/director: Paul O’Brien
Production/Design: Mary Power Cooney, Eilish Rafferty
Costume: Doreen Ryan, Cliona Bolger, Mary Power Cooney, Eilish Rafferty
Stage Management: Cliona Bolger

Performers
Ms Caroline Aylmer of Donadea: Mary Power Cooney
Mrs Horgan of Harristown Stationmaster's house: Libby Trappe
William 'Squires' Gannon, Kildare, Republican and captain of the county senior football team: Aaron O’Connor
Ellen Murphy, sister of Mercy teaching at the Mercy Convent, Naas: Lisa O’Shea
John Malone, Corban's lane, Naas: Conor Morgan

It was wonderful to perform in the former council chamber, where the Moat Club used to stage shows (1954-62).

The Story of Us, a temporary exhibition from the National Archives on the 1926 census, is in the library until 28th July (free of charge).

Eoghan Burke’s “From The Plains - The Story of John Devoy” is on in the Moat Theatre tonight (sat 4th July). Tickets, priced at €15, are available from the theatre box office. 045 883030.
Archives of Ireland

***The Odd Couple Female Version Opens Tomorrow***

Need a laugh with friends? Grab the girls and head to the The Moat Theatre Naas for our summer comedy show. This year, it's from the pen of the king of Broadway comedy, Neil Simon, author of such hits as Barefoot in the Park, Plaza Suite and the Sunshine Boys.

When perfectionist Florence separates from her husband, her friends are concerned for her fragile state of mind. Laid-back Olive generously issues an invite to stay with her in her apartment, and the two women embark on a voyage of discovery. They soon learn that what may seem like endearing foibles from a distance can become unbearable torments at close quarters. Olive hosts a games night and into the mix come Renée, Sylvie, Vera and Mickey, friends of Florence and Olive, members of an all-girl group of Trivial Pursuit aficionados. Florence and Olive’s slide into mutual loathing culminates in a disastrous date night with their neighbours, the hapless Costazuela brothers.

Opening tomorrow night, running until Saturday 20th.
Tickets available at https://moattheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873685896
Box office: 045 883030


Photos by Jim Xi Johnson .jpegs

The Odd Couple

Olive plays matchmaker; Florence is not impressed!

The dinner date guests are the broken-English speaking Costazuela brothers.

Jesus, like his brother Manolo, is kind-hearted and eager to comfort Florence, but their cultural differences and Florence’s dramatic personality make the situation hilariously awkward.

Patricia Voon plays Olive, Louise Donnelly is Florence and Nick Pearson-Buffoni is Jesus.
The Odd Couple Female Version runs from 16th to 20th June at 8pm nightly
At the Moat Theatre, Naas
Tickets available at https://moattheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873685896
Box office: 045 883030