Nenagh Players celebrate their 80th anniversary with major exhibition in heritage centre

A major exhibition celebrating 80 years of the Nenagh Players has opened in Nenagh Heritage Centre.

Among those in attendance was Bernadette Tobin, whose late husband Dick, was among the first to join the Players shortly after they were formed. Dick was a stalwart on the stage, winning acclaim for his portrayal of The Bull McCabe in the Players staging of The Field by John B Keane.

Opening the display, which chronicles the Players since their first production in 1943, Cllr John “Rocky” McGrath, Cathaoirleach of Nenagh MDC, described the evening as “special” and one that must have been “emotional for some of you”.

“Give yourselves a round of applause, you have to be proud of tonight, 80 years is a long time,” said Cllr McGrath.

County Tipperary arts officer Melanie Scott described the exhibition as a “legacy of the Nenagh Players”.

She said that it was not just about the Players, but was also a social history of Nenagh.

Looking back to when the Players were founded, Ms Scott highlighted that in 1943, most places had no electricity or running water and the bicycle was the only means of transport for many.

“The radio was the only link to the outside world,” said Ms Scott. “The Abbey Theatre was barely 40 years old and the play that year was the Playboy of the Western World with Cyril Cusack.”

Ms Scott said that she would like to know where the interest to form the Players came from, commenting: “These people had a huge vision. You can’t under-estimate the value the Players have brought to the town.”

She pointed out that, sometimes, the Nenagh Players were the first contact people had with the arts.

“You have put on 100 plays in 80 years,” she pointed out, highlighting the numbers of Players who had gone on to work in the arts.

Recalling the All-Ireland winning Flight to Grosse Isle, written by local playwright Jim Minogue, she said that, “like all great art, it has lived on in the memory”.

Kevin Walshe, who coordinated the exhibition along with designer Ann Scroope, who also designed Nenagh Tourist Office, and Mike McMahon, said: “I am proud of what we have done. It was an education and a pleasure to work with Ann; Mike came up with all the text.”

Kevin paid a special tribute to former award winning stage managers Johnny O’Donnell and Micheál O’Brien for their part in the Players.

He also acknowledged the assistance of the staff at the Heritage Centre as well as David Ryan at the Nenagh Guardian for the high quality of the printing for the exhibition.

“It has been a fantastic journey for me and put a lot of smiles on my face,” said Mr Walshe.

Nenagh Players Chairperson Lisa McGeeney also also acknowledged the wonderful collaboration of the Heritage Centre staff in putting the exhibition together..

Recalling her first involvement with the group 20 years ago when she returned home, she said: “I was that child who loved theatre. It was a real joy to see that auditions were being held and then I got a part.”

She thanked Ms Scott for all the support through the years, not just for the Players, but for anyone who got involved in the arts in Tipperary.

The Chairperson also thanked all those who had been involved backstage over the years.

“We have been fortunate to have a team of talented members who are not just interested in being on stage.”

Ms McGeeney also thanked Ann, Kevin and Mike for their work on the exhibition.

“Without them I don’t think we would have had this exhibition,” she said, pointing out that Ann had a link back to the founding members.

Nora O’Meara of Nenagh Heritage Centre thanked the Players for entertaining the town over the past 80 years.

Also among those present was Cllr Ger Darcy, Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council.

Nenagh Heritage Centre is open Tuesday to Friday and the exhibition will run until February 2024.