Old ghosts get a new life in vibrant Galway show

Arts Week with Judy Murphy – A unique musical and theatrical journey that takes Irish folklore and ghost stories as its starting point will be staged at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway on May 24.

Mag Mell is the work actor, comedian and writer Jon Kenny, artist and puppeteer Des Dillon, accordion player Benny McCarthy and flute player Conal Ó Gráda.

Mag Mell is a mythical island off the west coast of Ireland where the action is set, explains Galway born Des Dillon, a graduate of GMIT, who now lives in Clonmel.

This dramatic work, which features music, dance and Des’s amazing puppets, was the brainchild of Benny McCarthy, a founder member of the traditional supergroup, Danú, who first developed the notion while on a tour of America some years ago.

He wanted to do something based around the theme of Halloween, says Des. Given that Halloween was originally an Irish feast that was carried to the USA by emigrants from this country, Benny felt a show based around the theme of ghosts and folktales would sit well with Americans at that time of year.

He and fellow musician Conal Ó Gráda approached Des about making puppets and props – Des is well known in the arts world as a top-class puppeteer with a background in theatre. Des liked the idea, and in turn he approached Jon Kenny about getting involved, as he had worked with Jon and Pat Shortt for their performances as d’Unbelievables.

The four began by researching ghost stories from the ancient annals, all the way up as far as the 19th century healer Biddy Early.

“Women like Biddy Early are regarded as witches now but before that, they would have been regarded as wise women,” observes Des.

And it is a Bean Feasa, or a wise woman who forms the backbone of this story. She lives on Mag Mell, an island renowned as a place of peace and happiness.

It’s a holy island with a holy tree and from this vantage point she sees a group of traditional musicians arguing amongst themselves, outlines Des. In a bid to make them realise that their music is a gift, she lures them onto the island to allow them time for a bit of reflection.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.