Mayor of Ballinasloe, Pat O’Sullivan honoured the Ballinasloe Musical Society last Thursday 5th February with a civic reception celebrating their overall show 
win and best comedian win at the AIMS awards in Killarney last June for their production of Honk. The Mayor spoke of the many people of Ballinasloe who assisted with the foundation of the musical society and thanked everyone who has been involved in every production since it was established. The Mayor also made reference to the town’s social economic and cultural importance, and he stated that the sole of Ballinasloe revolves around the culture of the town.
The night was a double celebration in many ways as the Ballinasloe Musical Society launched their upcoming production ‘Hello Dolly’. Hello Dolly will be held in the Town Hall Theatre, Ballinasloe from Sunday 22nd February to Saturday 28th February. The cast of the show include many well known names such as Mike O’Reilly, Kennedy Kennedy, Jacinta Keane, Majella Flanagan, Angela McGuire, Niamh Kelly and Eoghan Cormican to name but a few. The society hasn’t produced ‘Hello Dolly’ since 1970 and it was fantastic to see members of the 1970 cast and crew at the launch last Thursday night including Maureen Donoghue who played Mrs. Molly and Bernie Dunne who played Minnie Fay.
Hello Dolly is one of Broadway’s most successful musicals. At one time it held the record for the longest running musical on Broadway. The plot concerns a rich merchant, Horace Vandergelder, who requires a wife and employs Dolly Levi to find him one. But Dolly decides she wants him for herself. She arranges for him to meet a New York milliner, Irene Molloy, and while he is away his two young salesmen decide to slip away to New York as well; resulting in mix-ups and misunderstandings. To find out how it all ends, if Dolly gets her man, you’ll have to come and see the show!
As mentioned by Gerry Sweeney, Chairperson, Ballinasloe Musical Society the show would not go on without the continued support of the community of Ballinasloe, this includes cast, crew, patrons, sponsors and audiences of the show. This year the society is pleased to announce two principal sponsors, Premier Proteins and Comrad Holdings. Without whom the show just couldn’t go on.
Both Pat O’Sullivan and Gerry Sweeney mentioned the upcoming All Ireland Talent Show on RTE, in which Rachel Goode, a member of the musical society will battle it out against other Irish hopefuls to be selected as the overall winner. A member of the musical society needs our votes, so make sure to get thenumber and get texting. Rachel will be on RTE One on Sunday 22nd February at 6.30p.m.
While the musical society cast & crew are putting the finishing touches to their production of ‘Hello Dolly’, you can buy your tickets from Monday 16th February at the Ballinasloe Credit Union or call 086 1221123.
We look forward to seeing you at the show!
The Photo above and the ones below are Courtesy of Ballinasloe Photo Centre and Gerry Stronge Photography
