Murphy’s Town Hall Athenry 85 “Having finished their season of plays, Athenry Drama Group have started a series of Drama and Cabaret. Their first production was in the Forest Inn Carrabane on Thursday of last week.” 3rd May 1975 – Unfortunately we have no info available on activities in the Hall in May 1975 but page 7 of the Tuam Herald of this date, carries the following Athenry news under the heading Departure: “Miss Noreen Hession, of The Square, has left Athenry to take up a position in Dublin. She had been employed in the local ESB office for some time. Her new job, which is promotion, is in the head office in Dublin. Her many friends in Athenry, and particularly those from the Drama Group, wish her well. She took part in many of the group's productions.” 158 6th June 1975 – Unfortunately we have no info available on activities in the Hall in June 1975 but page 11 of the Connacht Tribune of this date, carries an advertisement for Athenry Drama Group performing Sive and Moll by JB Keane in Forest Inn Lounge, Carrabane at this time. 4th July 1975 – Unfortunately we have no info available on activities in the Hall in July 1975 but page 6 of the Connacht Tribune of this date, carries the following Athenry news under the heading Cabaret: “The organising committee of The Esker Church Renovation Fund, had a very successful cabaret and drama presentation in The Forest Inn, Carrabane last week. Items from Orla, Mary and Siobhan from Craughwell (accordeons). Traditional Music from The Cameos Folk Group, Loughrea. Accordeon Music from Dick Jennings. Songs from Leo Coffey and excerpts from John B. Keane's play Moll by Joan Murphy, Kitty Lardener and Padhraic McCormack of The Athenry Drama Group helped to make the night a splendid success.” 12th August 1975 – An Auction of Antique Furniture was held in the Hall (source: Connacht Tribune 8th August 1975, page 30). 14th September 1975 – A Race Dance, as part of Athenry’s first Pony Race, was held in the Hall, with Music supplied by local band The Doves (source: Tuam Herald 6th September 1975, page 7): “The Junior Chamber, who so successfully organised the gala week-end of entertainment recently, have taken on another project. The first ever pony races in Athenry will be held on Sunday, Sept. 14th. Cash prizes for each event have already encouraged many entries and further entries will be accepted by Noel Gormley, Northgate Street. A race dance will be held in the Town Hall and the popular local band, The Doves, will supply the music.” 18th October 1975 – Connacht Tribune 17th October 1975 carried an advertisement, on page V of the supplement, for Dancing in the Hall on this night with Music provided by Rodney’s Glory. 16th November 1975 – Connacht Tribune 21st November 1975, reports as follows on page 6, under the heading Public Speaking: “A public speaking competition for secondary schools and sponsored by Muintir na Tire was held in the Town Hall, Athenry, on Sunday. The subject was That Irish Society is Controlled by Men. The teams could speak for or against and they all spoke for. Teams from Glenamaddy, Athenry and Headford Colleges took part, and Headford were declared winners.” 5th December 1975 – Connacht Tribune of this date carried the following on page 6, under the heading DRAMA, (so we can reasonably assume that Playboy was staged in the Hall around Christmas time 1975): “Athenry Drama Group are now in the final stages of rehearsal for the production of the three-act play. The Playboy Of The Western World. It will be staged in the Town Hall at the end of next week. A dedicated and enthusiastic cast, under the direction of Miss Kitty Lardner, should attract full houses for each production.” 13th & 14th December 1975 – Connacht Tribune of 19th December 1975 carried the following on page 6, under the heading DRAMA SUCCESS: “Athenry Drama Group played to large, enthusiastic audiences when they presented The Playboy Of The Western World in Athenry at the weekend. The large cast, some of whom were making their stage debut, were extremely well suited to their parts...” 158 See December 1974 entry above
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