‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ is a 1990 play by dramatist Brian Friel, set in Ireland’s County Donegal in August 1936 in the fictional town of Ballybeg. It is a memory play told from the point of view of the adult Michael Evans, the narrator. He recounts the summer in his aunts’ cottage when he was seven years old.

The play is loosely based on the lives of Friel’s mother and aunts who lived in Glenties, on the west coast of Donegal, depicting the late summer days when love briefly seems possible for three of the Mundy sisters (Chris, Rose, and Kate) and the family welcomes home the frail elder brother, who has returned from a life as a missionary in Africa. Taking place around the festival of Lughnasa, the Celtic harvest festival, the play describes a bitter harvest for the Mundy sisters, a time of reaping what has been sown.

Under the directorship of Geraldine Canning, Ballyduff Drama Group will present ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ in March. Valerie O’Leary playing the part of Kate Mundy is joined by the 4 Mundy sisters played by Kate Canning (Agnes Mundy), Laura Kennedy (Chris Mundy), Laura Giseto (Rose Mundy) and Delores Dermody (Maggie Mundy). Brendan Dunlea plays the part of Fr Jack Mundy, Courtney Canning will play Michael and joining the group for the first time is Lochlainn McKenna who plays the part of Gerry Evans.

Ballyduff Drama Group will present ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ on 1st, 2nd & 3rd of March t 8.15pm in St Michael’s Hall, Ballyduff. Opening night, Friday 1st March, purchase two tickets for the price of one. For bookings, please contact 058-60456.