The Pirate Queen comes home to Mayo

With unrestrained joy, Ballinrobe Musical Society has revealed its next musical presentation will tell the story of Mayo’s own Granuaile – and the show, the brainchild of Riverdance creators John McColgan and Moya Doherty, will enjoy its world amateur premiere in the south Mayo town.

The Pirate Queen features music by Alan Boublil and Claude Michel Shönberg, who penned such classics as Lés Miserábles and Miss Saigon.

“It is an incredible honour for us to be granted an exclusive, one-off licence to present this show. The Pirate Queen is still in the infancy of its professional life, but, by allowing us to hold the world amateur premiere here in Co. Mayo, there is a very real sense of a show coming home,” said Pat McGovern, chairperson, Ballinrobe Musical Society, speaking at the recent media launch. The show will be staged in association with Irish Pride, a national company with a local presence stretching back over many decades.

“The composers and creators have shown incredible generosity of spirit to grant us this licence. This is a massive vote of confidence in Ballinrobe Musical Society, and we aim to repay their faith by doing justice to this precious jewel of modern musical theatre.”

Now there are high hopes that the composers and creators will travel to Ballinrobe for next February’s ten-night run, the longest run the society has ever undertaken. The show will be presented nightly in Ballinrobe Community School from Thursday, February 11^th, to Saturday, February 20^th.  The society is regularly honoured in the annual Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) awards, most recently for their acclaimed production of Chess last February.

Mr McGovern congratulated John McColgan and Moya Doherty on drawing from our history to tell the story of Granuaile, who was, in the words of the invading English, “a woman who overstepped the part of womanhood” and “the most notorious sea captain in Ireland”.

The Pirate Queen received standing ovations when it opened in Broadway in 2007. However, it wasn’t universally acclaimed by the critics, and its Broadway run was short.

“Of course, the critics didn’t acclaim Les Miserábles either, and it later returned to Broadway to become the longest-running and most-watched show of all time. 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. Who knows, it might even make a triumphant return to Broadway.

“But, first, it’s coming to Ballinrobe. What an honour for us! We will aim to portray the purest interpretation of the intentions of Alain Boublil and Claude Michel Shönberg.”

Mr McGovern added 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”.

Pat thanked the business community of Ballinrobe and surrounding area. Shows such as The Pirate Queen could not be undertaken were it not for the goodwill of a wonderful community. Brian Quinn of Ireland West tourism has also supported the undertaking, for which the society are extremely grateful.

Pat welcomed to the launch Ballinrobe’s new musical director John Roe and the Society’s producer/choreographer of 12 years – Peter Kennedy. The show was “launched” by Jennifer Rock, Clonbur, Co. Galway, who was recently crowned Queen of the Lakes – and who promised not to maintain a Grainuaile-like grip on the region!

He also thanked and welcomed members of Ballinrobe Community Development Council who would be working closely with the Society to create a community festival around the staging of The Pirate Queen. He said that he would like to see as many people as possible, particularly students, attend this unique production.

The creators and composers, in a recent statement, said they were very happy to have their work performed in Mayo by a society who had been producing musicals of a very high standard for many years. They looked forward to witnessing the fruits of their efforts.

Auditions for the show take place on Sunday, September 13^th, in the CBS Parish Centre, at 2pm.

Photographs from the launch are being supplied to local media by Trish Forde, photographer, 094 95 40414

The official image below of The Pirate Queen is attached separately also. We would be grateful if it could be used with coverage. Thank you for your continued interest in Ballinrobe Musical Society.

For more info – also available for interview:

Pat McGovern, Chairperson, 085 174 2082, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sheila Reaney, Secretary, 087 667 1778, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Liam Horan, Sli Nua Communications, 087 9185 867, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it