Screening of 'The Quare Land' a great success

A selection of the raffle prizes at the showing.

A fully-booked attendance in the Town Hall last night thoroughly enjoyed the first and only screening of 'The Quare Land' as performed in 2016 by Kilcullen Drama Group, writes Brian Byrne.

The special event was to raise funds towards the provision of a defibrillator in a public space on Hillcrest. The initiative was prompted by the recent saving of a spectator's life by local responders and the use of defibrillator at Kilcullen GAA grounds, and the realisation that there was no public defibrillator on the north end of the town.

The two roles in the John McManus hit play were performed by the late Bernard Berney and Vivian Clarke, and before the screening Vivian asked the audience not to be upset at seeing Bernard on screen. "Just enjoy the show, that's what he would have wanted," he said.

"And they did really enjoy it," he told the Diary this morning. "To hear them laugh all through the showing was to me the indication that the night was a big win."

Vivian was one of the organisers of the event, with Eilis Phillips, Frank Mitchell and Ronan Murphy. In addition to the proceeds from the ticket sales and raffle, donations totalling in the region of €800 were made by many who wanted to help with the project.

There was widespread support from individuals and businesses in providing raffle prizes, donated by Berneys Chemist, Hair by Eilis, Cosgroves Pharmacy, AES, Clarkes Menswear, Nolans Butchers, Sitric Jewellers, McTernans Bar, O'Connells Bar, Martin Whyte, John Hayes, Ray Donoghue, Liam Walker, Colin Clarke, Jim Connolly, Fallons Restaurant, Pat & Vivian Clarke, The Athgarvan Inn, The Kiosk Flower Shop, Curragh Golf Club, Michael Murphy Furniture, The Hair Emporium, and Eamonn O'Toole.

A location has been agreed with a business on Hillcrest for the defibrillator.

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