LIVE THEATRE AT THE SEANCHAÍ CENTRE
The Seanchaí Literary & Cultural Centre, Listowel presents a daily programme of live theatre performances as part of the tour of the Kerry Writers’ Museum. See the characters created by the writers come to life as you move through the museum, located in a magnificently restored 19th century Georgian residence in The Square, Listowel.
Encounter the formidable priest’s housekeeper ‘Moll’ or the powerful matriarch ‘Big Maggie’ created by John B. Keane in his famous stage plays. Be regaled by the stories for adults & children from ‘The Master’ Bryan MacMahon, or learn of the North Kerry origins of the ‘Quiet Man’ created by Maurice Walsh, and later adopted for screen by John Ford. You will be greeted by these many characters on your arrival and taken on a magical journey through the imaginative worlds of these great Kerry writers.
Following the performance you can take a journey with the Kerry writers through historical and scenic North Kerry landscapes that influenced them in a unique audio-visual presentation. Or listen to the voices of the writers themselves in the audio presentations in the individual writers rooms.
SHOWS RUN DAILY FROM TUESDAY TO SATURDAY AT 11.30 AM & 2 PM
THE GEORGE FITZMAURICE LITERARY WEEKEND - 23rd to 25th September, 2011
To mark its 10th anniversary the Seanchaí – Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre celebrates the life and work of one of North Kerry’s most respected playwrights in a weekend programme of exhibitions, film, lectures and dramatic readings.
George Fitzmaurice was a playwright before his time. Born in 1877 in the family home, Bedford House, just outside Listowel , on his father’s death in 1891, the family moved to a farmhouse in Kilcara, outside the village of Duagh.
George moved to Dublin where he was employed by the Civil Service. His earliest writings were published in Dublin weeklies between 1900 and 1907. His first major success came in 1907 with an Abbey production of his comedy The Country Dressmaker. One of Fitzmaurice’s most notorious characters, Luke Quilter, the man from the mountains, appears in this play that proved hugely popular with audiences, much to the surprise of one W.B. Yeats.
His second play, a dramatic fantasy entitled The Pie Dish, was totally rejected by critics and considered blasphemous. It lead to the rejection of what is now understood as one of his best plays, another dramatic fantasy, The Dandy Dolls. Ironically, the Abbey Theatre produced this play in 1969, six years after his death. Other well-known plays by Fitzmaurice include The Magic Glasses, The Moonlighter, The Enchanted Land and One Evening Gleam. A selection of short stories The Crows of Mephistopheles was published in 1970 by the Dolmen Press.
George fought in World War One. He spent his later years following monotonous routines in Dublin, with a fear of travelling and people. An unsent letter in his belongings, found after his death, revealed that he had suffered from neurasthenia, which explains his shyness.
He died alone, at 3 Harcourt Street, Dublin, in 1963, at the age of 86.
A FULL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS WILL BE POSTED SOON
THE RIVER FEALE – FROM SOURCE TO SEA
This hour long documentary film was specially commissioned by the Seanchaí Centre and explores the historical, cultural, social and economic lives of the communities which live along this famous Irish river. The film traces its source in Rockchapel, Co. Cork through Mountcollins & Abbeyfeale in West Limerick and Listowel in North Kerry until it meets the Atlantic Ocean at the Cashen.
Now available in the following outlets:
- The Seanchaí Centre, The Square, Listowel
- Woulfe’s Bookshop, Church Street, Listowel
- Garvey’s Supervalu, Market Street, Listowel
- McKenna’s Hardware, Market Street, Listowel
- Duagh Post Office, Main Street, Duagh
- Touhig’s Supevalu, Main Street, Abbeyfeale
- Lee Records, Upper Castle Street, Tralee
- John B. Keane's Bar, William Street, Listowel
COST - €20.00
“Our new home looked into the river, the Feale, at the back. I wonder if having been born there and living within the sight and sound of a river gave me my great love of water? I have never in later life, felt lonely anywhere if water was my companion on a walk, or could be seen in landscape”.
Bertha Beatty – Kerry Memories
TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC CLASSES – EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 3 PM
This weekly class caters for a variety of instruments including tin whistle, accordion, flute, banjo, concertina and fiddle. Directed by renowned Castleisland musician Ann McAuliffe, the class is open to both children and adults. You can contact Ann directly on (087) 6736337 to discuss your requirements.