Prolific playwright’s works staged 29 times this year

The latest play by prolific local playwright Jimmy Keary is being performed in America this week. ‘Marrying Mike’, the Rathowen man’s 25th play, is being performed at the Gaelic American Club in Fairfield, Connecticut by the The Clan na Gael Players, after one of the group discovered the play on Jimmy’s website. The Clan na Gael Players are the 29th drama group to stage a production of one of Jimmy’s plays this year, a sign of his growing popularity.

We caught up with Jimmy this week to ask him a few questions.

Q: When did you write ‘Marrying Mike’?

A: I wrote ‘Marrying Mike’ last year. It’s my latest play, my 25th. While I was writing the play, I became ill with depression and anxiety, but didn’t know what was happening to me at the time. However, I struggled on and managed to finish the play, although the process took longer than usual. It had its première in Portumna, County Galway last November.

Q: What is ‘Marrying Mike’ about?

A: Elderly bachelor farmer, Mike Fogarty decides to look for a wife. Mike’s scheming friend Barney O’Toole decides that his wayward sister Colette would be an ideal candidate. Both Barney and Colette decide that it will be a short marriage – but Mike’s friend Kate O’Sullivan discovers the scheme and comes to the rescue. But Mike is a hard man to save from himself.

Q: What are the 29 plays that have been performed this year?

A: The Two Loves of Gabriel Foley (10 productions), The Maiden Aunt (5), Here Comes The Bride (1), A Fish Out Of Water (2), Fortunes and Misfortunes (1), Marrying Mike (3), Mother Knows Best (3), Mammy’s Boy (1), Hitting The Jackpot (1), Love Thy Neighbour (1), I’m The One For You (1).

Q: Where have the plays been staged?

A: The plays have been staged all over the country: Donegal, Carlow, Tipperary, Longford, Mayo, Galway, Tyrone, Cork, Down, Laois, Clare, Monaghan, Wexford, Meath, Cavan, Kilkenny, Fermanagh, Roscommon and Kerry.

Q. What are you working on now?

A. I’m working on a new play, which started with the working title of ‘The Other Man’s Grass’, but it’ll probably end up being called ‘Wedded Blitz’. I have the first draft almost finished. There was a particular scene that had been going around in my head for some time. That turned out to be the opening scene of the play and I just continued on from there.