Drama

Drama was a great means of entertainment for our parishioners long before TV, or radio. People entertained themselves by getting involved in drama. The National Schools in the parish were the venues for rehearsals and productions back in the 1940’s. Some locals who played certain characters were often remembered later for the role they played and even the name of the character they played remained with them. Joe McInerney, Donogrogue, was the main actor in a production called ‘Cobwebs in the Keyhole’ and Paddy Daly of Burrane was also prominent in different acting roles back then. Mai Crowe recalled various plays she participated in between 1940 and 1944 in Killimer School, and has very happy memories of her friends, who not alone produced their plays in Killimer, but travelled with their props on horse and cart to Lissycasey and other venues to perform. They had plenty of fun, in spite of the hard work, according to Mai. The priest entrusted her with the responsibility of ensuring Killimer School was left safe when she locked up at night. We also heard many stories of the theatrical acts which took place in Knockerra in the 1940’s and well into the 1950’s and 1960’s.

In 1973 Macra na Feirme members were being encouraged to participate in drama competitions, thus rekindling the interest in drama locally, with a first production of a one-act comedy called ‘A Burglary Will Take Place’, produced by Sean Duggan. The production was taken to many clubs in West Clare and the cast included Nora Fitzpatrick, Mai Culligan, Pat Fitzpatrick, (Knockerra), Pat Culligan, Marion Kelly, Mai Culligan and Michael Madigan. In the following year it was necessary to stage two one-act plays to facilitate all the interested members. They chose ‘The Spinsters’ produced by Fr Keane P.P. and ‘The Swallowtail Coat’. These two productions included all past members in ‘The Spinster’, as well as Bernie and Sean Duggan, Mary Collins, Sean Cunningham and Tommy O’Driscoll in ‘The Swallowtail Coat’. They achieved second and third place for their production in the Clare Macra na Feirme Competition held in Labasheeda on April 5^th 1974. The adjudicator was Scariff native Caimín Jones. ‘The Matchmaker’ was another memorable drama staged in St Senan’s Hall, Knockerra. Other Macra members on stage at later dates include Michael McMahon and Gerard Miniter. Fr Keane also produced ‘My Hills My Home’ with participation by many of the actors from earlier plays.  Brid O’Connell and Pat Fitzpatrick received acting awards for their roles, in this production, in the Doonbeg Drama Competition.

On her retirement from teaching in Knockerra N.S. in 1988, Mary Bonfield established a Drama Society in the parish; so great was her love for the stage that she produced and staged a number of plays. These included ‘A Minute’s Wait’ and ‘Big Maggie’ with many former actors and actresses performing, including Cathy Collins, Sean Duggan  Bernie Duggan and their daughter Therese, Phil Crowley, Kathleen O’Brien and her daughter Gráinne, Michael Murphy, Pat Fitzpatrick, Joe Crowley, Jimmy King, Mary Foran and Mairead Griffin.

In 1994 the Knockerra Players, involving many of the above cast, performed in the play ‘Moll’ produced by Pat Fitzpatrick and assisted by Breda Blake.

In 2016 a revival of the drama group took place in the parish under the new name The Oakhill Players. Even through Covid they continued with their work completing a radio drama for all to hear. Many locals such as Cathy Collins, Mary Callaghan, Phil Crowley, Michael Murphy, Joe Griffin, Josie McMahon, Claire Bannon, Mary B McMahon, Joe Crowley, Leah Callihan, Caroline Corry, Faye Collins, Patrick Fitzpatrick, Martin Kelly, Ciarán McMahon, Cathal Lyons, Moya Collins, Madeline Dunne and MJ Dunne have been involved in the different productions, as well as those who have joined in from neighbouring parishes. So far they have produced ‘The Last of the Mohicans’, Happy birthday dear Alice, The Wests Awake, Sive, Galway Girl, There are many young men of twenty