Mairéad in the frame

Lifestyle – Mairéad Folan’s relationship with her walking frame forms the basis of her debut play, Luke, which will premiere at the Town Hall Theatre next week. She and director Diarmuid de Faoite tell JUDY MURPHY how this unusual love story came about and how she refuses to let disability define her.

Since she was a child, Mairéad Folan always wanted to be able to work and play the same way that all her friends did. And she’s succeeded due to her extraordinary grit and determination.

“When I describe myself, my disability is well down the list,” says Mairéad, from Indreabhán, as she explains the background to her new play, Luke, which will premiere at the Town Hall Theatre next week.

And when she’s asked what would be top of the list when it comes to describing herself, Mairéad’s answer is simple.

“Having the craic,” she responds with a laugh. “For me, growing up, the craic came first. If we were going to Neachtain’s (Pub), I’d have to go to Buskers or the Quays to go the bathroom and if the craic was mighty I didn’t care.”

The only difficulty was getting home, she says. Because of mobility issues due to cerebral palsy, the bus wasn’t an option and taxis to Indreabhán were expensive. But, in general, she didn’t let such difficulties hold her back. She’s not that type of woman.

That’s apparent as she prepares to present her debut play Luke, which evolved from a short piece Mairéad was invited to write for the 2017 Notions Festival, run by community organisation, Aon Áit Eile.

Mairéad is a stalwart of the Galway theatre scene, having founded her own company NoRopes after graduating from NUIG with an MLitt in English.  She had preceded that with an MA in Drama and Theatre Studies and worked in freelance roles with companies, including An Taibhdhearc and Fíbín Téatar do Pháistí.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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