It’s showtime!

O ’CONNELL Musical Society is currently rehearsing for its upcoming pantomime ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ which will be staged at St Brigid’s Boys’ National School, Killester on the weekends of January 15, 16 and 17; and January 22, 23 and 24. 

Ticket prices are €11 for adults/children €7. For bookings, call 089-4323478.

O’Connell Musical Society was founded in 1943. It’s first musical was ‘The Geisha’ and musicals continued on an annual basis until financial difficulties in the early ‘60s caused its virtual demise. 

In 1966 the society bounced back and to date has performed many successful musicals including ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ which starred Colm Wilkinson. 

This show was staged in 1983 and went on to the Olympia Theatre where it received great reviews. ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ in 1988 also went to the Olympia. 

In 2000 Northside actor Simon Delaney starred in the production of ‘A Slice of Saturday Night’. 

In 1996 the society ventured into the world of Panto with ‘Goldilocks’. Due to popular demand it returned to Pantomime in 1999 and has been staging an annual Panto ever since at St Brigid’s Boys’ National School, Killester.

In 2015 the society staged both a Panto (‘Beauty and the Beast’) and a musical (‘Follies’, in the Clasac Theatre, Alfie Byrne Road). 

This received four Assoication of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) award nominations, including Best Overall Show, and won Best Visual. 

It was a very enjoyable and successful time for O’Connell’s and saw the return of many past members to the stage. 

In the past, O’Connell’s have also staged a number of one-act plays, the last of them taking place in 2011. This is something the society hopes to revive this year. 

OCMS proudly celebrated its 70th anniversary with a Gala evening at Clontarf Castle in 2013.

Sadly in December of that year, its President, Bob Hopley, passed away. Denis Twomey, a long-standing member and active supporter of O’Connell’s, was appointed the new President.  

As O’Connell Musical Society looks forward to staging its latest Panto offering – with the Farrell family particularly involved through a variety of roles – its members are keen to put the emphasis on the fact that this is very much a community-based group which has been entertaining Northside audiences for more than seven decades. 

For further information, email [email protected]