'Land grab' to be explored in Kiltoom play!

A threatened 'land grab’ has been on the minds of many in South Roscommon recently, so it’s fitting that Kiltoom Drama Group has decided to explore issues around people’s attachment to land in its latest production, 'The Field’ by John B Keane.

Directed by Ollie Hegarty, the play will be performed in Ballybay Parish Hall from tomorrow (Thursday) until Sunday, March 10 to 13, at 8pm each night.\ 

In the programme notes for this production of The Field, it’s stated that: “A modern day 'land grab’ occurred when Minister, Alan Kelly ordered a controversial boundary review last year to transfer part of County Roscommon to County Westmeath.

“The passionate revolt by the South Roscommon people reminds us of the deep-seated feelings of attachment to land, which clearly remain as strong today.”

The Kiltoom group’s production is its sixth play by John B Keane, with past productions including: Many Young Men of Twenty, The Year of the Hiker, The Buds of Ballybunnion, Moll, and The Chastitute.

Director Ollie Hegarty said this latest production “will extract the maximum drama from this dark story of how one man’s obsession for four acres of land tests a small rural community’s underlying values of loyalty to clan and social class in the heart of rural Ireland in the late 50s.”

The 13-member cast includes a mixture of familiar faces from Kiltoom’s recent productions, debutants, and actors returning to the stage in Kiltoom after lengthy sabbaticals.

The role of Bull McCabe is played by Sean O’Laoide. His son, Tadhg McCabe, is played by Paul Slevin, while 'outsider’ William Dee is played by Paul Slevin.

The other members of the cast are: Darren O’Hara; Hughie Glynn; Ged Rowlands; Debbie Kilbride; Jackie Cunnane; Mick Donnellan; John Stack; Anne Newcomen; Tom Blaine and Howard Costello.