Does anyone remember the Pantomine produced by Eddie and Dobbin Mc Kavanagh,
Sammy Mc Shane and Maureen Stewart played the leads.
I beleive the Chorus was mostly from the Girls Club.
Anyone got Photos?

Gerry, I was a chorus girl in that pantomime. I loved every minute of it, the rehearsing and the shows where we went round a fair few halls. Of course, the opening night was in St Joseph's Hall. I remember Ann Sherry was the leading lady and, yes, Maureen Stewart the principal boy. The panto was Dick Whittington and was a brilliant production by Eddie McKavanagh and his wife, who had been a ballet dancer. We had an orchestra too and I remember one of the McCaugherty boys from Antrim Street played in it. He was a nice chap with black curly hair and I just forget his name now. We had a fantastic time, singing in the bus coming home after devouring beautiful suppers which we though were great, being served with sandwiches, buns and cake. I don't have a photograph but I am sure someone somewhere does. It was one of the best times of my young life.

Hi Ann & Gerry I myself was in that production and there was a photo taken of the cast as there was one hung in house for a long time but as my acting career seem to go no were it was removed from the pride of place it was given I'm afraid to one of obscurity ! to put it bluntly I don't know were the hell it went I must ask around , Gerry I wonder is that the same play that was taken to Miss Boyles parish I think in Tomme correct me if I'm wrong there was a bus hired to transport us there and the driver on the way home kindly left the lights off and the wrestling in the back of that bus was fierce but quite enjoyable ? Thanks for the memories Ted

Gerry, & all,

That was a lovely way of life for young people in our young days, I don't remember ever being bored or having any free time to be fed up.

Pantomimes & Drama groups were organised by the teachers at school, extra to their school work. Mr & Mrs Mc Kavanagh freely gave of their time to provide great entertainment for young & old.

I remember the packed Hall every night, the excitement, the enjoyment, the songs & dances, my favourite was "Majorca Isle of Love" sung by the cast in grass skirts. Every time I hear it on Radio I see it again.

Ann Sherry had a lovely singing voice, her legacy is "Smile when your heart is breaking". All the cast were first class including Ann & Gerry's wife Kathleen. I was unfortunately too old to take part.

I believe many future romances began then too.........Pat

I particularly loved the Drama Festivals, groups travelled from all over Ireland to take part. Excellent acting, the best was "The Ghost Train" & of course the Lisburn comedians & singers brought the house down with their sketch of a Wild West Saloon, complete with cowboys,(Arthur Rooney, Sammy mc Shane, Mr. Hanratty & many others) dressed in spats, Stetsons & guns slung on their belts. A scream, ad libbed every night.

They even brought a very reluctant donkey up the stage stairs for effect, & the cast enjoyed themselves as much as the audience when a mistake happened, such as Hugh Monaghan racing in to the saloon shouting his too well rehearsed lines, "Who shot that Fire"?

The cast collapsed in stitches of merriment with the audience.

Where would you get that now.??? Pat

Yes, Ted there was a bus to go to the different Parishes,but no body else admits to the Shenanigans in the back seat,
Unfortunately I was not involved in the show as I was following my own career in the Irish dancing world.
The Grass skirt and the enjoyment with some of her chums,Ceilia Mc Keown,Teresa Gorman to name just two bring Kathleen happy memories of an enjoyable time when they never stopped laughing.

Happy Days

Gerry, I don't remember any "carrying-on" in the bus. It may well have gone on but I was only about 13 or 14 years old at the time and we sat at the front. I never remember the bus lights being out either. Ted, I wonder were you thinking of another production? It was a great time in my life anyhow and, as Kathleen says, lots of laughing and fun. Talk about Happy Days.

Hi Gerry I really am sorry I cant retrieve that photo of the cast, I will ask around and hope for the best Regards Ted

only thing i recall about mccavana was he sure knew how to wield the cane and the strap he had which was split and sewn again with old pennies in it more or less he was a sadist in todays world he would have been jailed

Barney, I'm sure you are correct. However, as the song says, "accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative". Forget about it, as the only one who suffers will be yourself, harbouring these cruel memories.

They got away with it and it was also condoned and covered up. I recall the time when Barney's Da went after a schoolmaster who had hit Barney as a child. He was a little Da but carried a big stick! He didn't catch up with him but it was a real step out to go after a schoolmaster at that time.

Worse in those industrial schools where the lives of children were taken. The story of Letterfrack which Barney mentions that we visited.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Joseph%27s_Industrial_School,_Letterfrack

Some photos we took there:

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk177/Goldykx/westport/067.jpg

http://s280.photobucket.com/user/Goldykx/media/westport/066.jpg.html?sort=3&o=87

http://s280.photobucket.com/user/Goldykx/media/westport/065.jpg.html?sort=3&o=88

http://s280.photobucket.com/user/Goldykx/media/westport/065.jpg.html?sort=3&o=88

http://s280.photobucket.com/user/Goldykx/media/westport/065.jpg.html?sort=3&o=88

http://s280.photobucket.com/user/Goldykx/media/westport/061.jpg.html?sort=3&o=91

http://s280.photobucket.com/user/Goldykx/media/westport/061.jpg.html?sort=3&o=91