Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan
THE Healy-Raes are embarking on a world tour of Kerry in a new play written by Killarney storyteller and actor Ray O’Sullivan.
The Rise and Rise of the Healy-Raes is the hilarious and sometimes poignant story of bachelor brothers, Densey and PJ Doona, who appear time-locked in a life of loneliness and celibacy in their small family farm in Kerry.
But foreign women, love, elections and politics combine to change their lives, with the well-oiled Healy-Rae machine at the centre of the miraculous transformation.
The play’s tour of Kerry runs for six nights at six different venues across Kerry, opening at Beaufort Community Centre on March 11 and finishing at St John’s Theatre in Listowel on April 20.
It will be staged in the Killarney INEC Acoustic Club on Thursday, April 13 at 8pm.
It’s the first time the remarkable story of Healy-Rae politics has been crafted into a dramatic production for stage. Written by and starring Ray O’Sullivan, it’s the Cork native’s first full-length play. He is no stranger to the stage and has earned a reputation as an original and talented storyteller, seanchaí and actor.
The play is directed by Aidan O’Connor, journalist and writer/director of the hit drama, Patrick, which had a phenomenal run in Kerry last year.
“The story of the Healy-Raes is one which has been told in many ways over the years but this is the first time it’s being played out on stage. In many ways, it was a drama waiting to unfold,” Ray O’Sullivan said.
Director Aidan O’Connor remarked: “Ray O’Sullivan has shown tremendous bravery in tackling such a well-known yet gigantic movement as the Healy-Raes. What he has done is pen a very funny and moving piece of work that Kerry audiences will thoroughly enjoy.”
The tour schedule is:
March 11: Beaufort Community Centre
March 25: Castleisland Ivy Leaf
April 1: Kenmare Carnegie Centre
April 8: Scartaglin Heritage Centre
April 13: Killarney INEC Acoustic Club
April 20: St John’s Theatre, Listowel
Tickets will be available at the door or by calling 087-2279657
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