Murphy’s Town Hall Athenry 36 19th to 25th June 1944 – Quigley & Traynor Productions, a Travelling Drama Company, performed their All Star Variety in the Hall on 7 consecutive nights (source: Hall Journal). 67 Donegal Democrat 8th July 1944 carried the following on page 4: “...Last week the Traynor and Quigley Productions arrived, and Mr. Joe Quigley, of that Company was of invaluable help as a Violinist during Drama Festival Week...” 24th July to 6th August 1944 – Carrie May & Bailey Travelling Company performed their All Star Variety, Songs, Gags & Sketches in the Hall on 14 consecutive nights (source: Hall Journal). 26th September 1944 – Athenry Agricultural Show Grand Annual Dance was held in the Hall with Music by Miss Sheila Dunne’s Famous No.1 Dance Band (source: Hall Journal, see also Connacht Tribune 24th September 1944, page 5). 26th to 29th October 1944 – Gerry Brodbin & Travelling Variety Company presented their Happydrome Parade in the Hall (source: Hall Journal). 2nd to 5th November 1944 – Louis D’alton’s Travelling Play Company performed 4 nights in the Hall, a different play on each night (source: Hall Journal): The Money Doesn’t Matter by Louis D’alton Hawk Island by Howard Irving Young Arms and the Man by GB Shaw The Wise Have Not Spoken by Paul Vincent Carroll 26th December 1944– Athenry Local Security Force (LSF) held a Dance in the Hall source: Hall Journal). 6th January 1945 – Athenry Dramatic Club performed Juno and the Paycock, a Three Act 1924 play by Seán O’Casey set in the Dublin tenements of 1922 (source: Hall Journal). 68 It was first performed in the Abbey Theatre in March 1924 with a cast including Barry Fitzgerald and his brother Arthur Shields. 4th February 1945 – Dick Murphy, founder of the Town Hall sadly passed away on this date. The Murphy family continued to be involved in the operation of the Hall as a going concern for 3 more decades until 1976. See Death Notices: Irish Independent 5th February 1945, page 1, also Connacht Tribune 24th February 1945, see page 1: “MURPHY (Athenry) – Feb, 4, 1945, at Central Hospital, Galway. Richard Murphy, Town Hall, Athenry; deeply regretted by his wife and family. R.I.P. Remains removed from hospital to-day (Monday) at 4 o’c. High Mass in Church of the Assumption, Athenry, tomorrow (Tuesday) at 11 o’c. Funeral immediately afterwards.” 25th February 1945 – Athenry Drama again performed Juno and the Paycock by O’Casey (source: Hall Journal). 26th February to 4th March 1945 – Anew McMaster’s Travelling Dramatic Company played the Hall for 7 nights, performing a different play each night: Jealousy A Tale of Two Cities Jane Eyre The Scarlet Pimpernel The Ware Case Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde Lord Edward 67 Joe Quigley & Josephine Traynor 68 Louis D’alton had performed this play in the Hall in October 1943
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzM2OTY=