Airport musical runs for three nights only

THE DRAMATIC musical in two acts On a Wing and Prayer launches boldly into the public sphere for three nights this weekend, running from Thursday, to Saturday night next, at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar. The show is a musical adaptation of Terry Reilly's history of the trials and tribulations that surrounded the development of the shrine at Knock, and the building of an international airport in the area. Auditions were attended by hundreds of hopefuls bidding to take part in what is the biggest musical to be staged in the West this winter. All proceeds from the mammoth show will go to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation. Terry Reilly is a former editor of the Western People newspaper. Tommy Marren of Mid West Radio, who has wide stage experience, is both the director and the narrator. The musical tells the story behind the extraordinary Monsignor Horan's many great undertakings, including the building of the airport. The show opens with the Apparition at Knock in 1879 and traces Horan's career in various parishes and many enterprises. It also features the infamous Tooreen Dancehall and the Devil scare; the role played by Dame Judy Coyne in making Knock a pilgrimage site; the visit of Pope John Paul II to Knock; the building of an international airport and the death of the Monsignor just months after its opening. The messages are powerful and will inspire leadership in tough times. The show's musical director is the talented Lavinia Gilmartin of the international award-winning St Cecelia's School of Song in Ballina, one of the finest academies in the country. The show includes no fewer than fourteen original songs, composed by Terry Reilly, Tommy Marren, with a little help from one of America's finest and most decorated song writers Rory Bourke, whose roots are in Mayo; Derry-born, Mayo-based Dennis McCalmont; and Ballina-born Tom Devere. Backing tracks have been done by Dennis McCalmont and Francis Ryan, and all of the work has been melded into powerful renditions by Lavinia Gilmartin. The show features Monsignor Horan, played by two actors from Ballina, Ollie Rouse and Patrick Lacken; Dame Judy Coyne, played by Cynthia Clampett; Ellen, Monsignor Horan's helper, played by the award winning Deirdre O'Meara of Leitrim. Amongst characters featured are Charlie Haughey, Garret FitzGerald, Barry Desmond, Jim Mitchell, John Healy, Cathal Duffy, Padraig Flynn, Jim Fahy of RTE, Pope John Paul II, Jim Ryan, Tom Neary, Sean Balfe, Frank Harrington and others, all of whom had a role in the emerging Knock Airport saga. Actors include Frank Forde of Castlebar and Pat Feeley of Sligo, Kieran Coen of Ballina, Martin Curry of Westport, Matt McLoughlin, Anthony Walshe, Michael Rice, John McLoughlin, Pat Doyle, Aidan Higgins, Gerry Scanlon, Valerie Neary, Cian Harrison, Brendan McGuinness â€â€ and literally one hundred more. Making a special appearance on opening night will be Dana Rosemary Scallon, former Eurovision Song Contest winner and MEP, who will sing her own song Lady Of Knock. The song will be sung on the other two nights by the talented Amanda Browne. Many young vocalists and musicians also feature, while award-winning set designer Eileen Slevin, based in Leitrim, has been wonderfully creative. Stage manager is Aileen Harrison, and wardrobe mistress is Maggie Gorman. Add chorus, stage crew, sound, lighting, musicians, dancers, and it all adds up to a great show, a wonderful night out. 'Unfortunately the economic downturn has impacted severely on fundraising and as the HSE continue to cut back on services the Palliative Care Teams are calling on the Foundation more and more to meet the increasing needs of patients and their families.  Providentially, Terry Reilly has generously offered the proceeds from the first performances of his novel and entertaining musical and it will now be a case of all systems go to ensure its success,' Cynthia Clampett, Chief Executive of Mayo-Roscommon Hospice Foundation, said. Patron-in-Chief is Joe Kennedy, Mayo Person of the Year, and former Chairman of Ireland West Airport Board, who has also been most generous with his patronage of many events in the region. Tickets are available on www.ticketmaster.ie, as well as from the Royal Box Office on 0818-300000. Tickets can also be purchased from the Customer Services Desk at Ireland West Airport Knock, and from Mayo-Roscommon Hospice on 094-9388666. Further information is available from www.wingandprayer.ie, www.theroyal.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie.