From the archives: Patrician pageant a ‘wonderful performance’ in 1961

By Tom Gillespie

IN April 1961 the Castlebar Patrician Pageant was staged in MacHale Park and was deemed a ‘brilliant production’.

A review of the pageant was carried in The Connaught Telegraph on April 8 of that year.

It read: “It was a wonderful performance”; “a brilliant production”; “a really marvellous local effort” were among the glowing tributes paid by the large number of entertained spectators who were privileged to be present at the opening night of the Castlebar Patrician Pageant, held on Monday night last.

The statements quoted were made in all sincerity and were a genuine expression of the views of those present - and their is no more critical audiences than those in the west of Ireland.

Further, many of those present had travelled long distances and, after sitting for two-and-a-half hours in bitterly cold weather, were so taken by the all-round excellence of the pageant that they forgot the discomfort of the cold night air and went away singing the praises of the production.

So smoothly was the pageant ran through than nobody, perhaps, excepting the sponsors and the members of the 500-strong cast, could realise the tremendous undertaking it was, and it will be a source of much gratification and pride to all concerned to realise just how much the patrons enthused over the production.

The pageant, organised to commemorate in a fitting and special manner the 15th centenary of the death of St. Patrick, depicts outstanding events in the life of the great Saint in his journey through pagan Ireland.

There are few who are not acquainted with the history and life-work of the saint, but no matter, the brilliance of the interpretation of the pageant was of absorbing interest, from the splendid executed Tara scenes to the Saint’s historic vigil on Croagh Patrick. Many people expressed the view that the first and final scenes were the most colourful; but, again, there were different views, all agreeing on one important point that by and large, the production was an exceptionally outstanding one.

Already the energetic producer, Mr. Robert Kilkelly, and many of the promoters have received congratulatory letters about the excellency of the pageant, while verbal and phone messages are pouring in non-stop since Monday.

Apart from the lavish praise so freely showered on the production, the most astonishing feature from the visitors point of view was that it was entirely a local effort - a Castlebar community effort.

This is, of course, true - all sections of the life of the town are associated with the production; everything connected with it bears the unmistakable Castlebar hallmark - local voluntary workers built the props, designed and made the costumes, installed and operated the intricate sound and electrical equipment, and attended to the numerous other tasks necessary to successfully produce a huge undertaking as a Patrician pageant.

Even the beards, exotic as some of them are, are indigenous, and tended and carefully cultivated after months of effort, gave abundant proof of the wonderful spirit and determination of the various actors boasting such perquisites.

Apart, also, from the cast of 500, there are numerous members of the committees, sub-committees and individual helpers who do not appear before the public eye, but without whose work the show could not go on.

In the official pageant programme, no names are mentioned at the express wish of the actors and workers, and this is also certainly unique.

For almost six months over 20 sub-committees have been working hard, often for seven nights of the week, in preparation for the huge undertaking.

It was not unusual for 20 different meetings to be held on the one night, taxing to capacity local halls, hotels and meeting places. Such feverish activity gives an indication of the extraordinary effort put into the production, and with such a spirit it is but natural that it should prove the wonderful success it undoubtedly is.

The principal producer is Robert Kilkelly, and with him co-producers are Messers. Andy McTigue, Iarla Mongey, Gerry McDonald, Joe Gilmartin, Cecil V. Norman, R.W. Jones, J. Glynn, G. O’Gara, John Fitzgerald, Joe McCormack, R. Corcoran and Andy Redmond.

Local building firms willingly assisted in the erection of props and scenes.

The script is the work of Mr. Michael O’Flanagan, a member of the teaching staff of Castlebar Vocational School, and one of the highlights of the entire production is the superb commentaries by Rev. Fr. E. O’Malley, C.C., and Mr. Joseph Gilmartin of St. Gerald’s College teaching staff.

The music, chiefly concertos by Mozart, and the Parish Male and Boys' Choir, with Mr. Sean Connell, presiding on the organ, is appropriate and effective and contributes significantly to the production. (I was a member of the boys choir and a recording of the hymn ‘Hail Glorious St. Patrick’ was made in the choir loft of the Church of the Holy Rosary and played in MacHale Park.)

Reference to the excellence of the commentary and music makes mention of the sound effects and broadcasting necessary. In charge of this vitally important aspect of the production is Mr. John Kilkelly. In keeping strictly to the wishes of the producer to have the production as realistic as possible, Mr. Kilkelly even went to Clew Bay to record the crying of gulls and the sea birds to add a touch of realism to the coffin-ship scene.

The costumes were made by the Castlebar Guild of the Irish Countrywoman’s Association.

The combined effort, not forgetting the horsemen, has resulted in producing with imagination, technique and perfect coordination one of the most colourful and spectacular productions ever attempted in provincial Ireland.

Acting on the advice of the Irish Meteorological Service, the producer decided to postpone the performance on Wednesday night, and how wise the decision proved to be.