‘Ailliliú Fionnuala’


Bog magic realism play about the Shell Corrib gas project runs for two nights in Cork, with post show discussions:

Camden Palace Hotel, Camden Quay Cork, 8pm Thur-Fri 23-24 May. Tickets €8, €5 conc.

Ailliliú Fionnuala,

written and performed by Donal O’Kelly,

directed by Sorcha Fox, designed by Robert Ballagh.

Ambrose Keogh works for Shell. When the Tunnel Boring Machine he named Fionnuala sinks into the bog in Erris Co. Mayo, he is magically confronted by Fionnuala of the Children of Lir. Fionnuala puts a geas on him – he’s bound to tell all he knows about sinister attacks with possibly murderous intent on local opponents of the project such as Willie Corduff and Pat O’Donnell. During his ordeal, Ambrose meets his primary school classmate, Malachy Downes, an anti-pipeline activist, and echoes from the past resound.

“I saw Willie Corduff shortly after he was attacked by masked men in the Shell site at Glengad in April 2009, and I know how close he came to death. That’s when I decided to write this play. Crimes such as this can’t be let happen with impunity in a functioning democracy” says O’Kelly.

Writer and actor Donal O’Kelly’s award-winning solo plays include Catalpa, Joyced! and Bat The Father Rabbit The Son. Other plays include The Cambria, Jimmy Gralton’s Dancehall, The Adventures Of The Wet Señor, Vive La, Running Beast, Operation Easter and Asylum! Asylum!

“Cuts a swathe through Shell/State propaganda, allowing audiences to access the truth of what’s happening in North Mayo” Hot Press

“O’Kelly performs superbly” Sunday Independent

“A stirring piece of theatre” Irish Theatre Magazine

“Highly entertaining while packing a punch” Exeunt Magazine

Further info or for interview: 086 2116956 or 087 6734773