A special night in Ballybeg as Glenties Drama Group stage Dancing at Lughnasa

The Festival of Lughnasa took place in Glenties over bank holiday weekend, celebrating playwright Brian Friel and the people and place that inspired his greatest works.

And 12 years on from getting the seal of approval from Friel himself, the Glenties Drama Group cast of  Dancing at Lughnasa reprised their roles for the festival.

The cast played to a packed house in the Market Hall for the two-night run on Friday and Saturday evenings, and came in for much praise. Having been rehearsing for the last few months, the cast put on performances which were described as ‘best ever’ staging by some fans of the play, including some who had travelled especially from Dublin.

Dancing at Lughnasa is set in the fictional town of Ballybeg which is based on Glenties, the hometown of Friel’s mother Mary, née McLoone.

It explores the often conflicting aspects of rural Ireland in the 1930s, including how deep rooted pagan traditions sit alongside - and sometimes clash with - the rigidity of the Catholic Church. 

The story is narrated by Michael Evans from memories of his childhood in Ballybeg in the summer of 1936. Michael lives with the five Mundy sisters - his mother Christina and her four sisters, Kate, Maggie, Rose and Agnes. 

Their lives change direction when their older brother Fr Jack returns from missionary work in Uganda where he contracted malaria. He is suffering from memory loss and his behaviour leads to the villagers becoming suspicious that he may have become entrenched in Ugandan religion.

As a result, Kate loses her job as a teacher. Rose and Agnes had been knitting gloves which they sold locally, but this source of income dried up when a glove factory opened in Ballybeg.

The play shows their challenges and moments of joy, punctuated by the newly acquired radio bursting sporadically into life. 

The Glenties cast were delighted to be asked to stage the play for the Festival of Lughnasa. 

Ahead of their first production 12 years ago, Brian Friel sent them a letter saying: “It is altogether appropriate and deeply satisfying to me that Glenties people are performing Lughnasa. There is a welcome wholeness in that. Because Glenties itself is both the core of the play and its engine. 

“I hope you had a most enjoyable time in rehearsal. I hope your audiences enjoy what you present to them. In short, I hope the night sings.

“Warmest good wishes to you all. Brian Friel.”

This precious message from the late playwright was carried in the hearts of the cast 12 years on as they prepared for the 2024 production. And judging by the reaction on social media, the night most certainly sang.