A PLAY centring on the story of the Healy Raes is embarking on a world tour of Kerry in the coming weeks.
Written by Killarney-based storyteller and actor Ray O’Sullivan, ‘The Rise and Rise of the Healy-Raes’ is the hilarious and sometimes poignant story of batchelor 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.
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The play’s ‘world tour’ of Kerry runs for six nights at six different venues across Kerry, opening at Beaufort Community Centre on March 11th and finishing at St John’s Theatre in Listowel on April 20th.
It’s the first time the remarkable story of Healy-Rae politics has been crafted into a dramatic production for stage.
Written by Ray O’Sullivan, it’s the Cork native’s first full-length play. O’Sullivan, who also stars the play, 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 said; “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 play comes to the following venues (Tickets available at the door or by calling 087 2279657)….
• Beaufort Community Centre: Saturday, March 11th, 8pm
• Castleisland Ivy Leaf: Saturday, March 25th, 8pm
• Kenmare Carnegie Centre: Saturday, April 1st
• Scartaglen Heritage Centre: Saturday, April 8th, 8pm
• Killarney INEC Acoustic Club: Thursday, April 13th, 8pm
• Listowel, St John’s Theatre, Thursday, April 20th, 8pm