Sean Carthy plays the lead role of Billy in Ballycogley Players’ production of ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’.

AFTER MONTHS of rehearsing, set designing and building, the Ballycogley Players are ready to hit the stage with their latest production, ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’.

The play is a dark comedy penned by Martin McDonagh who links the story to the real life filming of the documentary ‘Man of Aran’. Set on the small Aran Islands community of Inishmaan off the Western Coast of Ireland in 1934, the inhabitants are excited to learn of a Hollywood film crew’s arrival in neighbouring Inishmore to make a documentary about life on the islands.

The cast features Sean Carthy as the cripple of the title, Billy. He is joined by Kathleen Tierney and Catherine Murphy as his aunts Kate and Helen, and Con Doyle as Johnnypateenmike. Rachel Murphy plays Helen while Chris Maddock takes on the role of Babbybobby.

The cast also features: Paddy McGuire, Jack Allen and Mary Doyle.

The group will embark on their three-act festival journey later in the month but will first perform the play in St. Michael’s Hall, Thomas Street on February 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. Admission is €10 on the door.