Abbeyfeale Drama Group bring Sive to Fr. Casey’s

Abbeyfeale Drama Group members: Niamh Healy in the title role with Billy Quirke in preparation for their staging of Sive at the Fr. Casey GAA Club from February 16th. at 8pm. Photograph: Paul Ward.

Joan O’Connell as Mena Glavin with Richie Roche (left) as Thomasheen Seán Rua and Séamus Lane as Mike Glavin in the Abbeyfeale Drama Group adaptation of John B Keane’s Sive which is due to open its run on February 16th. Photograph: Paul Ward.

Mary Murphy in rehearsals for her role as Nanna in the Abbeyfeale Drama Group adaptation of John B Keane’s Sive which is due to open its run on February 16th. Photograph: Paul Ward.

Abbeyfeale Drama Group members: Niamh Healy as Sive with Dick Woulfe as Seán Dota; Richie Roche as Pats Bocock and Jeremiah Roche as Carhtalawn in preparation for their staging of Sive at the Fr. Casey GAA Club from February 16th. at 8pm. Photograph: Paul Ward.

It’s 57 years ago that John B Keane’s masterpiece Sive was staged for the first time in his native Listowel.
John B Keane had a tremendous understanding of human nature and rural life and portrayed this uncanny genius of observation in Sive.
Report by Marian Harnett. Photography by Paul Ward
The ever popular play will be staged by the Abbeyfeale Drama Group in Fr. Casey’s GAA Clubhouse at 8pm nightly beginning on Tuesday, February 16 and continuing its run on February 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27 and finishing on Sunday, February 28th.

Local Matchmaker
The story revolves around Sive – played in this instance by Niamh Healy – a young and beautiful orphan who lives with her uncle Mike Glavin his wife Mena and her mother Nanna.
An old man Sean Dota enlists the services of a local matchmaker, Thomasheen Sean Rua to organise a marriage between himself and Sive.
Thomaseen, armed with the sum of two hundred pounds, convinces Mena to help arrange the marriage. However, Sive is in love with a young man, Liam Scuab but Liam is not considered suitable as he is a cousin of illegitimate Sive’s father and is refused permission to marry her. The poor girl is distraught, but is forced to do the will of her uncle and his bitter wife and the tragedy of the story unfolds.
The power of the the play still resonates with audiences both rural and urban and Abbeyfeale Drama Group expects full houses for the duration of its run.

First Night for Charity
All proceeds from the first night on Tuesday, February 16 go to the Abbeyfeale Lourdes Invalid Fund.
Chairman of the drama group, Seamus Lane has issued an invitation to one and all to come and see their production which will start at 8pm sharp each night.
Directed by Richie Prendiville, the cast includes: Niamh Healy in the title role with: Billy Quirke and Liam Scuab; Séamus Lane as her uncle Mike Glavin; Joan O’Connell as Mena Glavin; Mary Murphy as Nanna; Dick Woulfe as Seán Dota; Richie Roche as Thomasheen Seán Rua; Pat Scannell as Pats Bocock and Jeremiah Roche as his son, Carthalawn.
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