Little Páidi steals the show at All-Ireland Drama Festival!

Little Páidí Goff was the toast of Athlone on Saturday night last when he made his acting debut on stage at the All-Ireland Drama Festival – at the tender age of just eight months old!

Páidí, who is the son of Aisling Baker from Tubberclair, and her husband, Harry Goff, was the youngest member of a cast of 22 in a powerful production of 'The Ferryman' which was brought to the Athlone Drama Festival stage by Waterford-based Ballyduff Drama Group.

His delighted mother Aisling, who was in the audience at the Dean Crowe Theatre on Saturday night to see her baby make his stage debut, alongside his proud granny, Michelle, told the Westmeath Independent that he was “completely unfazed” by the whole experience.

“I was delighted that he didn't bawl his head off when he came out on stage and saw all the people in the theatre, but thank God he took it all in his stride and he was just mesmerised by it all,” said a relieved Aisling this week.

Páidi was chosen to play the on-stage role of Bobby Carney in 'The Ferryman' which is set against the backdrop of the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1981, when the previous baby chosen to play the role was “having none of it” according to the producer of the play, Ger Canning.

“When we knew we were coming to Athlone one of our cast, Grainne Kenny, contacted Aisling Baker, as they had been in college in Mary I in Limerick together and asked her if her baby, Páidí, would step into the role in Athlone, and the rest is history,” said Ger.

“Myself and Grainne are best friends since we started doing teacher training together in Mary Immaculate,” says Aisling Goff, “and I couldn't believe it when she rang me and asked if Páidí would take part in 'The Ferryman' we had such a laugh about it, but won't it be a great story to tell him in later years.”

As the timing of play coincided with little Páidí Goff's sleeping routine, Aisling admits there was some “logistical manouvering” involved in ensuring he got a good sleep before he went on stage on Saturday night last. “He usually goes to bed at 7pm, so we made sure he got a good sleep a bit earlier, and he just woke up before he was due to go on stage, which was probably a good thing,” she laughs.

While Aisling and her mother, Michelle, were in the audience, Páidí's Dad, Harry, who is from Naas, remained backstage and handed over his son to his on-stage cousin, played by Fiona Aherne. “He was very quiet for the entire time he was on stage and seems to be just mesmerised by all the action in front of him,” says Michelle, “it was such a proud moment for us all.”

Aisling says her beloved Dad, Noel, who passed away two years ago, would have been “so proud” to see his baby grandson on stage, and she says she can't wait to tell little Páidí all about his acting debut when he gets a bit older.

Aisling Goff is currently on maternity leave, having taught third and fourth class in Ardnagrath national school last year, and is due to take up a job-sharing teaching role in Knockcroghery national school in September.

As well as featuring a real live local baby, the Ballyduff production of 'The Ferryman' also featured a live goose and a rabbit, proving the old WC Fields, phrase that “you should never work with children or animals – they will steal the limelight every single time” to be completely true! As they did indeed steal the show!