Hero of Tom Crean returns
Date Published: {J}
The creator and performer of the hit show Tom Crean – Antarctic Explorer, Aidan Dooley is back. The Galway man is returning to his native city with the Irish touring premiere of his one-man show O’Sullivan Beara - the last Gaelic Chieftain.
The play, which will be at the Town Hall Theatre from Tuesday, next, May 10 to Saturday, May 14, tells the epic story of Cork’s O’Sullivan Beara, a Gaelic chieftain who refused to surrender to the English army at the turn of the 17th century, becoming the the last rebel to stand against the Crown after the Battle of Kinsale in 1602.
By using Irish myths, an original score and brilliant storytelling, Aidan dramatises how this heroic leader of the people of Beara tried valiantly to save his clan against the onslaught of the angry Tudor queen, Elizabeth, who was intent on ensuring Ireland would never aid the Spanish army in its campaign against England again. In doing so she destroyed the last embers of Gaelic rule in Ireland.
The Sunday Independent theatre critic Emer Kelly described the show as “pretty much irresistible”, saying that “as an author, Dooley’s heart is on his sleeve; as an actor it is used with craft and skill”. The Irish Examiner described the play as “unmissable”.
Aidan who is based in London, trained at Guilford School of Acting and appeared on West End stages with shows such as Philadelphia; Here I Come! Elegies for Angels, and Da. He also toured widely in the UK with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company. He first performed Tom Crean – Antarctic Explorer ten years ago at Siamsa Tire, Tralee for Tom Crean’s family. That was followed by a run at the The New York International Fringe Festival, where it won Best Solo Show.
Aidan has also been nominated for awards at The Dublin Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival and The Elliot Norton Critics Award Boston and in 2006 won a prestigious Fringe First at Edinburgh. He has worked for many years developing various performance pieces and historical characters for the National Museums in the UK.
Booking for O’Sullivan Beara - the last Gaelic Chieftain is now open at the Town Hall Theatre on 091-569777 or on the web at www.tht.ie