Buy your tickets immediately – that is the message this week from Ballinrobe, where excitement is reaching fever pitch in advance of the world amateur premiere of The Pirate Queen.

Ballinrobe Musical Society, one of Ireland’s top amateur musical societies, has revealed record levels of interest in their annual show, which runs from February 11^th to 20^th.

The Pirate Queen, which tells the story of Mayo’s western warrior Grace O’Malley, features music by Alan Boublil and Claude Michel Schönberg, who penned such classics as Lés Miserábles and Miss Saigon.

The show, the brainchild of Riverdance creators John McColgan and Moya Doherty, was last staged on Broadway in 2007.

Mr McGovern said that Grace O’Malley remained one of the most fascinating figures of Irish history. “Under-celebrated,” he said, “she was a wild, unyielding spirit who defended her country and its traditions, defied an empire and set herself against and conventions of society and the role it prescribed for women”.

The show is being staged in association with Irish Pride, a national company with a local presence stretching over many decades. Tickets went on sale on Monday, February 1^st, from the ticket office at Sean Costello’s, Abbey St, Ballinrobe (tel 094 95 41405) and immediately the phones were hopping.

“We have people coming from every county in Ireland. We have never had interest like this, and even though we have our first-ever ten-night run this year, we are still urging people to buy their tickets early,” said Society chairman Pat McGovern.

“The Pirate Queen is an epic show, too, and I believe that when we have the Mayo stamp on it, the quality of the show will once again be seen,” added Mr McGovern.

“This is more than just a musical. It is an expression of everything we are as Irish people and Mayo people. It is a significant challenge and responsibility for the Society.”

Among the attendance over the ten nights will be John McColgan, Moya Doherty, and Claude Michel Schönberg. “It is fair to say that many eyes in the world of musical theatre will be trained on Ballinrobe next week,” added Mr McGovern.

“We are very grateful to our premier sponsors Irish Pride, who have been extremely supportive. Our corporate sponsors 3, Tesco, Ashford Castle, and McHale’s Farm Machinery have also come in very strongly behind us. We are very appreciative of the support we have received from all our sponsors.”

More details on the show are available on www.BallinrobeMusicalSociety.com.