Pre-famine cottage
Tonight is our final performance in beautiful Kilkenny and we are once again having to say ‘good bye’ to four lovely and talented young actresses whom we’ve become quite fond of: Iseult, Annette, Connie and Alex.
We arrived a week ago to a town decked out in black and amber checkered banners and flags in celebration and pride for their recent victory in the GAA All-Ireland Hurling final. This town is a hotbed of both hurling and Irish crafts, and resplendent in many other ways too, such as brilliant late-summer flowers spilling out of window boxes and baskets at every turn, brightly painted pub doors, fun to explore charity shops, a grand castle charmingly illuminated at night, a walking path along the River Nore and of course, our many long-time friends here.
The River Nore
The Watergate Theatre is special to Keegan for another reason too; it was here on the Watergate stage that Mark proposed to Susan following a performance of The Glass Menagerie in front of a full house on September 11, 2002, and Susan said ‘yes!’
And tonight, it is intermission as I write, we have just learned that two dear old friends and former Keegan Board members, Beth and Jim Felty, are in the audience! They totally surprised us! They have sent us a note and treats backstage, and most importantly, a promise to meet up with us after the show.
Brad playing music at the Pumphouse
The week has flown by with Morris’ adorable puppy, Honey, visiting our green room, delicious home-baked treats from Pat’s wife, fantastic home-made soups at John Cleere’s, music, pool, drinks and at Pump House, dancing at Langtons, Frisbee on the castle lawn, visits from Sally’s husband, Shadia’s sister and Rob’s daughter all the while staying in thatched roof and pre-famine era cottages out at the edge of town by a fishing lake full of ducks and geese surrounded with every hue of green, where we even found a lucky four leaf clover!
In the morning we leave for Cork, but no doubt more memorable moments await us there.