Pictures: Gobnait musical set for Opera House

Sat, 22 Feb, 2025 - 12:18

Concubhar Ó Liatháin

An original music about Gobnait, the patron saint of the Gaeltacht village of Baile Mhúirne, is to be staged in the Cork Opera House after playing to full houses and rave reviews in Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh.

Theresa Ní Argáin as Sorcha in a scene from the play 'Gobnait' An Ceoldráma' which took place at An Halla, Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh , Co. Cork. - Picture: David Creedon

The musical, written by Seán Óg Ó Duinnín, Alan Kiely and Kevin Connolly, tells the story of Gobnait, who came to Baile Mhúirne around 1,500 years ago and proved such an inspirational figure that she is still revered in the village and in several other areas around Munster more than a millennium and a half later.

Sasha and Irina Popava at the play 'Gobnait' An Ceoldráma' which tool place which took place at An Halla, Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh , Co. Cork. - Picture: David Creedon

While the stories about what Gobnait, who was renowned as a smith and a beekeeper as well as being a holy woman, and what she did in Baile Mhúirne have been handed down in folklore through the generations, little if anything is known about her origins.

It is believed she was the daughter of a tribal king in Connacht.

Maureen Horgan and Yvonne Galvin from Kilmichael at the play 'Gobnait' An Ceoldráma' which tool place which took place at An Halla, Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh , Co. Cork. - Picture: David Creedon

The musical, which features 20 or so original songs, is divided into two halves, the first of which tells an origin story about Gobnait which is, according to Seán Óg Ó Duinnín, fiction but based on the circumstances of the time.

Pádraig Ó Duinnín as Rí Cairbe, Sarah Ní Ríordáin as Gobnait and Bobby Wolfe as Maolmordha in a scene from the play 'Gobnait' An Ceoldráma' which took place at An Halla, Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh , Co. Cork. - Picture: David Creedon

“Our telling of the story is not controversial, I would say, but it is definitely different,” said Seán Óg.

Susan, Tim and Helen Buckley at the play 'Gobnait' An Ceoldráma' which tool place which took place at An Halla, Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh , Co. Cork. - Picture: David Creedon

The show, which is the second original musical staged by Cumann Léirithe Bhéal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh/Ballingeary Productions Society following on the success of their War of Independence drama, Tuairín Dubh, features a cast of 30 on stage plus an orchestra and backstage team.