'The Field" by John B Keane opens Kells Festival Week

As part of Kells Festival Week, the cast of 25 from Kells Musical Society and Kells Theatre School has risen to the challenge of John B Keane"s 'The Field" and will attempt to capture pure emotion, tension and gripping drama under the direction of John Grant. This is the story of a man, whose obsession with land had unpredictable and undeserving consequences. The very experienced James Heary heads the cast as The Bull McCabe with young actor Aaron Byrne playing his son Tadhg. Johnny Lynch is relishing his role as the fidgety lovable Bird O"Donnell, while Linda Nelson plays an embittered widow Maggie Butler. Majella McLoughlin plays Mamie Flanagan and Paul Rogers plays her husband Mick Flanagan, with their children, Leamy Flanagan (Colin McGovern) and Anita McGovern as Aoife. The outsider William Dee is played by second year drama college student Alan Grant. The hilarious Dandy Mc Cabe is played by Shane McLoughlin and Sarah Insley plays his laughing wife. The very experienced Sean Brown plays Sergeant Leahy while Gary Byrne plays Fr Murphy, with Pat Byrne as The Bishop and Mrs Colleran played by Catriona Farrely. And where would Flanagan"s be without its regular patrons propping up the bar, and observing all the comings and goings of all Vinnie Ginnity, Kevin McLoughlin, Peter Rogers, and James Reilly? The two village girls are played by Anita McGovern and Catriona Farrelly. The Flanagan children are played by Cian Flanagan, Bryan Smyth, Mikey Kenny, Ben Toal, Jamie Feehan, Patrick Clarke, Eve Carpenter, Jemma Heary, Lauren Thompson, Jordan Lang, Sarah Ferguson and Lia Sweeney. This powerful play stages on Tuesday 30th June, Wednesday 1st July, Thursday 2nd and Saturday 4th July at 8pm in the newly refurbished St Vincent De Paul Theatre Kells. Tickets can be booked at the theatre from 10am to 6pm daily, on (046) 924 1844. Admission €10. The play is part of the Kells Festival, which opens on Thursday 2nd July at the Heritage Centre at 7pm, with the Kells Silver Band. Other events include Kells Summer School at Headfort House on Friday 4th July, where 'America Now" with Mark Little will be discussed, as well as 'Parnell, Meath and America" with Myles Dungan, at 2.30pm. Admission is free. The Livestock Band Concert with nine bands on an outdoor stage takes place at the Railway Bar on Saturday night, with a diverse mix of music from punk to country. The line- up includes Ian Whitty and The Exchange, Heritage Centre, Oona & the Devils, The Rest in Jellys (Formally The Cosmic Sweethearts), Martin Staunton & the Lost Parade, 21 Demands, Primitevo, Mojo, and Aidan Farrelly. On Sunday 5th July is 'Poets and Gazebos" with Peter Fallon, Susan Connolly and Paddy Halligan, in the private garden of Railway House Bar from 3pm. In the Arches on Sunday night is a comedy night and open microphone with Mish Mash comedy from Edinburgh, Fred Cooke, Neil Hickey and Aodhgan Cummiskey.