It was 1968. We were young, energetic, cager, and had just arrived in Drogheda. We got involved in St. Brigid’s, along with a lot of other “runners” and a few natives of the town. Our introduction that year was a drama and make-up course in Dunleer, which we thoroughly enjoyed. I remember being used as a model for the ageing process, one half of my face being made to look old!

The following January saw us rehearsing “God’s Gentry” by Donagh McDonagh. A play with a large cast, it started off as great fun, but unfortunately fizzled out before ever reaching the stage. (It was successfully produced again in 1990 by Des McGinty.)

The spirit didn’t die however, and we bounced back with “Is the Priest at Home?” by Joseph Tomelty. Tony Lambe produced and I was his assistant. I still recall the buzz of rehearsals, making posters by hand, and being very proud of our play promotion which was a display of photos of the cast in a shop window. Because some of the practices had taken place in Greenhills College, our first performance was for the nuns and girls there. (The only venue at Ann the time was the Parochial Centre, a big rattling hall, with bad acoustics, more suitable to pantomime than to small theatre-going audiences.) The party on closing night was arranged for a much frequented flat in 16, Laurence St.  A great success!!

Apart from plays, all took part in the social aspects of the club………Many a romance  blossomed in the Skol Club where we danced to records every Wednesday night, taking it in turns to be “on tea duty”, or, “on the door”, or playing the records. It was the forerunner of the disco, except that the girls still had to wait to be asked to dance……….

There were regular balad sessions in “The Horse and Hounds”, a “Question Time” competition with prizes or free tickets to the St, Brigid’s dinner dance, outings to other theatre events, swimming lessons on Monday nights in Gormanstown, table tennis, and of course any excuse to party!.

September ’70 we decided on “Lovers”, “Winers and Losers” by Brian Friel, but had to change plans because there were no amateur rights in Ireland at the time. (It was done by the group a couple of years later). Instead we did “A. Day in the Death of Joe Egg” by Peter Nichols produced again by Tony Lambe, I single out Kay O’ Kelly for her excellent performance as Jo. Great festivities after again in no 16, even managing to cause a little damage to the ceiling!

We took the play to Navan but were disappointed with the audience of only 25.

Another unusual play, “Clope” by Robert Pinget, was chosen as the main play for 1971. Des McGinty produced, assisted by Patsy Sweeney. It was the first of many for Des.

And so it continued….Other plays in the seventies included  “The Loves of Cass MeGuire”, “Da” and “Philadelphia Here I come”.

Some of us drifted in and out of the group for various reasons, but there remained, and, still remains, a core of very dedicated people whose work has ensured that the club has gone from  strength to strength over the last 60 years. 

Well done everybody.  Thank you St. Brigid’s and Happy Birthday!

Mary Barry