The Cripple of Inishmaan comes to Achill this Friday

MARTIN McDonagh’s acclaimed drama The Cripple of Inishmaan is coming to Achill Island this Christmas with Dooega Drama Group producing the renowned play.

They will perform ‘The Cripple’ on Friday, December 22, Wednesday, December 27 and Thursday, December 28 in Coláiste Acla, Dooega.

It’s arguably their most challenging undertaking yet but one in which the assembled cast are relishing. It’s their first production since Covid with a lot of talented newcomers stepping up.

“We’ve been on the go since 2010 but this has the potential to be our best production yet,” said co-director Martán Ó Mongáin.

“Our cast have been working extremely hard these past few months and their talent has been beyond doubt from day one. Our younger members have fitted in so seamlessly. We’re really looking forward to bringing it to Dooega for three nights over the Christmas,” he added.

Ó Mongáin is co-directing with Pádraig Patten. Ethan McNea plays the lead role of ‘Cripple’ Billy Claven. Sisters Caroline Mangan and Aisling Masterson play his adoptive aunts, Kate and Eileen Osbourne. Well-known Achill footballer Toirlach Dever plays the local gossip, Johnnypateenmike while Siobhán Molloy plays the role of his mother, Mammy McDougal.

Áine Mangan plays the fiery Slippy Helen with Éoin Murphy playing her brother, Bartley McCormick. Both are secondary school students in Cólaiste Pobail Acla, making their stage debuts but taking to it with ease.

Éoin Burke plays boatman Babbybobby Bennett while former county councillor Micheál McNamara plays the role of Doctor McSharry.

Island setting

THE Cripple of Inishmaan is set on the small Aran Islands community of Inishmaan (Inis Meáin) in 1934.

Life is quiet and dull and locals are thrilled to learn of a Hollywood film crew’s arrival in the neighbouring island of Inishmore (Inis Mór). Martin McDonagh links the play to the real life filming of the documentary Man of Aran.

‘Cripple’ Billy is eager to escape the poverty and boredom of Inishmaan and bids to take part in the film. Will he get his chance?

Lots of attention has been paid to the finer details with brilliant period costumes and props accumulated while a hard working crew, under the leadership of the gifted Denis McCarthy, has constructed a unique, rotating stage, with three different settings.

Dooega Drama Group’s previous productions include The Field, Sive, Many Young Men of Twenty, Coughwater and Translations.

Tickets for Dooega Drama Group’s production of The Cripple of Inishmaan are available on Event Brite (search for Dooega) or see the link (and plenty more besides) on the Dooega Drama Group page on Facebook. Tickets are also on sale in Achill Sound Post Office. The action gets underway at 8pm on each of the three nights, December 22, 27 and 28.

CAPTION FOR PIC ABOVE

Dooega Drama Group's cast of The Cripple of Inishmaan, which will be performed in Achill this Friday and also on December 27 and 28. From left: Éoin Burke (Babbybobby Bennett), Micheál McNamara (Doctor McSharry), Aisling Masterson (Eileen Osbourne), Ethan McNea ('Cripple' Billy), Caroline Masterson (Kate Osbourne), Siobhán Molloy (Mammy McDougal), Toirlach Dever (Johnnypateenmike), Áine Mangan ('Slippy' Helen), Éoin Murphy (Bartley McCormick).

Pic: Hiro Masuda