Torch Players Celebrate 50 Years

Torch Players are honoring their 50 years of theatre in Limerick with a production of the Brian Friel classic: Dancing at Lughnasa. The show will run at Belltable Tues 10 March – Sat 14 March, with all shows at 8pm. Tickets are €25/21. Come celebrate this amazing achievment with us! 

TORCH PLAYERS 1976 – 2026, a retrospective

From the Desk of Maurice O’Sullivan:

In the early 1970’s, with wonderful assistance from Brendan Nash, I began producing Pantomimes and One Act Plays “as Gaeilge” with students at the School of Commerce (now Limerick College of Further Education) in Mulgrave Street. They went on to win the Feile Scoildramaiochta Naisuinta in 1972 and 1975 and when these talented students left school in the mid 70’s Aisteoiri Scoil na Tractala evolved into the Torch Players. For the first three years Torch concentrated on One Act Plays and qualified for the All-Ireland One Act Drama Finals on two occasions, coming third both times. Their first full-length To Live in Peace was staged in the School of Commerce Hall in 1979 and the following year they moved to the Confraternity Theatre (now the Belltable) with their production of Abelard and Heloise. They performed on the Full-length Festival Circuit from 1979 until 2003 and qualified for the All Ireland Finals on fourteen occasions, including ten consecutive appearances. They were one of the first Drama Groups to perform in the Belltable when it opened in 1981 and have played there at least once a year since then.

Many of their players and crew won major awards at Drama Festivals throughout the country including their resident director, Maurice O’Sullivan, who won over 40 Best Director Awards. At the All Ireland Finals in Athlone the late Des Ronan won Best Actor in 1986, Mary Harvey won Best Actress in 1988 and the late John Butler won Best Supporting Actor in 1989. The Group also won Best Stage Management in Athlone in 2000. Other players who won numerous Awards were Assumpta Wallace, Brian Kelly, Paul McCarthy, Trish Kielthy, Joe Portley, Ann Moriarty, Cathal Costelloe, Sinead Fahy, Chris Rowley and the late Criostoir O’Griofa, Daithi O’Conaill and Tony Portley.

On the technical side it is fair to say that without the numerous talents of Brendan Nash the Group would not have survived its infancy. Michael Liston and the late Michael McKenna were also stalwarts in those early days. In the seventies and eighties we were very fortunate to have the talents of Sean Keating, Willie Ambrose and Mike Sheils. Up to recently we had the incomparable Bart Kiely and his team, which consisted of Bobby Nash, Pa Buckley and Johnny Corr. We are also indebted to Gerry Lombard, Miia Satama, Pius McGrath Justin Dunne, Hanor Hartnett, Sheenagh Murphy and Tara Doolin for their wonderful technical and backstage expertise.

Over the past 10 to 15 years Torch have attracted many new Actors and Backstage crew. Among the actors who have graced our productions in recent years are Dan Mooney, Peter Hayes, Joanne O’Brien, Jeanne O’Connor, Brid Hartnett, Antoinette Portley, Edel Heaney, Mary Jones, Michelle O’Flanagan, Gary O’Hanlon, John Mooney, Ollie Hayes, Paddy Kelly, Micheal O’Dubhghaill, John Finn, Norma Hussey, Eilis Casey, Bernie Hayes, Padraig Lohan, Tara Monaghan and James Corr. We were also extremely fortunate that Daordre Minogue returned to the Group some years ago and she now acts as our PRO and Stage Manager. It is fair to say that without Daordre and Gerry it would be extremely difficult to keep the Torch Players afloat.

Over the years Torch has a policy of encouraging members to take on directing, as it is felt that this is the best way of ensuring the Group survives into the future. Over the years Joanne O’Brien, Dan Mooney, Pius McGrath, Tara Doolin, Gerry Lombard and Daordre Minogue have undertaken this position.

Presently Torch can draw on an extremely talented bunch of players, We were very fortunate that so many highly talented Actors and Actresses graced our productions over the years. To all of them we extend our gratitude and we hope that this trend will continue into the future.

— Maurice O’Sullivan