IT IS exactly 100 years since the first production of the Wizard of Oz opened on Broadway. The extravagant production received critical acclaim. However, it became a worldwide favourite following the release of the Hollywood version, starring Judy Garland in 1939.
Now the musical is making its debut at the Presentation College, where it will be staged from Wednesday, October 22 to Saturday, October 25.
It is a fitting tribute to the College, which celebrates its 21st anniversary this year. The musical has played a central role in College life over the years, with an estimated 2,000 students becoming involved in the various productions staged there on an annual basis.
The educational value and sense of personal achievement is immeasurable for those who have experience it. This year’s show is poised to produce the same sense of achievement for over 130 cast and backstage crew.
Since the beginning of the academic year in September the school has been buzzing to the sound of Kansas farm hands, Munchkins and Ozlanders. The artists have readied the Yellow Brick Road and the Emerald City and the costume people have been getting to grips with the Wicked Witch and her Flying Monkeys.
Technical staff at the College have been working long and hard to come up with solutions to several problems and now thanks to the wonders of digital projection have been able to recreate a Kansas tornado and marvel at the false magnificence of the ‘mighty’ Wizard.
A past pupil of the College, Bryan Burroughs, makes a welcome return to direct this year’s production, with current pupil, Jack Paterson, once again taking on the mantle of musical director. Their job is made that little bit easier with a quality cast in the form of Yvonne Bolton as Dorothy, John May as the Scarecrow, Eoin Mulvihill as the Tinman and Darragh Walshe as the Lion.
Jamie Kennedy has the difficult role of Toto the dog while Tara Landers and Sarah Prendergast as the good and bad witches.
Taking on the role of Narrator is Thomas Maher while Danny Ray makes a special appearance as the Wizard of Oz.
This year’s production team consists of Geraldine McGrath, Claire McHugh, Orla O’Driscoll, Jacqui Quinn, Aine Hynes, David Kelly, Mike Ryan and Declan O’Connor.
The show runs nightly from Wednesday, October 22 to Saturday, October 25 nightly at 8pm. Tickets are available from the presentation College, tel. (059) 9143927 priced at 7 and students/OAPs 5. A family of two adults and two children costs 20.
And the prize goes to top recyclers
AS PART of National Recycling Week, Carlow County Council has offered a range of spot prizes to customers using their bring banks at various locations around the county.
Three generations of the Fields family were very surprised to be winners at the state of the art Kernanstown Recycling Centre on the outskirts of the town on Tuesday, September 30.
Sisters Bridget and Ann Fields along with their mother Mary were recycling at the Recycling Centre with little Alan and Shannen Fields. The Fields were model recyclers, having separated the glass bottles according to colour and placed them in the appropriate containers.
To celebrate National Recycling Week they each won a home composter. These top of the range compost bins are available from Carlow County Council at a subsidised rate. The compost bins will help to recycle their household organic waste and cut down on 40% of waste going to landfill. Jane Hennessy, Environmental Awareness Officer with Carlow County Council, will set up the composters and will be on hand to answer any of the Fields composting queries.
Carlow County Council organise activities across the county, which aim to educate householders on the importance of recycling as well as outlining some of the recycling services available to them. The number and type of facilities for recycling is well developed so that people in urban and rural areas have the opportunity to recycle.
Bring Banks accepting glass bottles and aluminium drink cans are located throughout the county and have proved a great success. Catherine Buggy of the Environment Section in Carlow County Council helped set up these bring banks in cooperation with local communities and maintains the banks to ensure their continuing success.
Full details of Bring Bank locations and Recycling centres are available on the Carlow Council website www.carlow.ie Further information Jane Hennessy 059 9165460.
Museum gets funding for new display area
CARLOW County Museum has been given Designation Status, which will allow its curator Dermot Mulligan to collect archaeological artefacts from the county on behalf of the National Musuem of Ireland has also been approved for a LEADER grant of 45,000 which will go towards the cost of new display equipment for the new museum.
At the September meeting of Carlow Town Council Mr. Mulligan told members that under the National Monuments Act 1930 and its amendments all archaeological artifacts found with no known owner are the property of the Irish State.
Over the years the National Museum staff carried out this function resulting in a large portion of the National collection remaining in storage due to the lack of display space. Under the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 the Director of the National Museum was given the power to delegated the collection and display of archaeological material to County Museums which are operated by a Local Authority.
At a function in the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street on Tuesday, September 9 John O’Donoghue T.D., Minister for Arts, Sports & Tourism and Dr. Patrick Wallace, Director of the National Museum of Ireland confirmed on Mr. Mulligan, Curator of Carlow County Museum the status of Designated Person for County Carlow. Since Carlow Town Council operates Carlow County Museum the Minister and Director were happy to bestow such powers on the museum staff.
Currently there are twelve County Museums in Ireland and all have such been granted such powers, with the two newest Carlow & Mayo receiving their Designation status on Tuesday last. At the same function John O’Donoghue Minister for Arts, Sports & Tourism launched a special Designated Museums brochure which gives details about all twelve museums, including Carlow. Brochures are available from the Carlow County Museum office at Carlow Town Council.
Carlow County Museum is being developed by Carlow Town Council, Carlow County Council in association with the Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society. When the new Carlow County Museum building on College Street opens in late 2004 - early ‘05 archaeological artifacts found in Co. Carlow can finally be displayed in the county in which they were found. Also significantly with the Designation status Carlow County Museum will be able to request archaeological artifacts previously sent to the National Museum to be returned to the County Museum for dis-play. Since the National Museum has removed a number of artifacts from county Carlow a study will begin later this month to determine the amount and exact nature of the Carlow artifacts housed in the National Museum.
Currently plans for the new Museum building are being drawn up and work on the design of the new exhibitions is at an early stage of development. It is hoped that the new County Museum will open its doors to the public by the end of 2004 or early 2005. The location on College Street is ideal, as it is adjacent to the County Library and Tourist Office.
In June the Museum made a detailed application to Carlow LEADER Rural Development for grant aid and have been awarded 45,000.
The Curator told members that an interpretative plan is the foundation on which the new exhibitions will be designed. Work on the plan has started and it will be ready by the end of the year, at a cost of 12,098.
Family and friends mourn Columba Nolan
THERE was a profound sense of shock and sorrow at the recent, unexpected death at her residence of Mrs. Columba Nolan, Sleaty, Graiguecullen,
Aged 52 Mrs. Nolan was formerly Columba Moore from St. Patrick’s Avenue, Carlow. A member of a well-known Carlow GAA family Columba was daughter of the late Tom and Peggy Moore.
She was involved in the running, with her husband Billy, of the Carlow-based Hawk Security enterprise up to the time of her death. Up to 18 months ago Billy and Columba were also proprietors of The Ranchers licensed premises in Old Leighlin, which they had run for 10 years.
A member of a committed Éire "g GFC family, Columba’s life revolved very much around family life. She was involved in the running of parish bingo sessions in Graiguecullen.
The remains were removed to St. Clare’s Church, Graiguecullen, where they were received by Fr. John Fingleton and Fr. O’Connell. Fr. Killian Byrne celebrated the Funeral Mass, during which he paid tribute to Columba Nolan’s life. She was laid to rest in St. Mary’s cemetery, Carlow.
Columba is deeply regretted by her husband, Billy, son Billy Junior, daughter Joanna, brothers Thomas, John and Richard, all Carlow, her step sisters Kathleen and Rita, other relatives, neighbours and her many friends.
