Theatre
‘Seanchaí’ to premiere stage reading at People’s Museum of Limerick on Thursday, September 25
‘Seanchaí’ to premiere stage reading at People’s Museum of Limerick on Thursday, September 25
New play ‘Seanchaí’ by Limerick-based writer will have its first staged reading on Thursday, September 25, at the People’s Museum of Limerick
A new play by James Meehan, a Limerick-based writer, will hold its first staged reading on Thursday, September 25, at the People’s Museum of Limerick, 2 Pery Square.
Directed by Limerick’s Mark P O’Connor, ‘Seanchaí’ tells the story of Rory, a young priest whose sermons fail to connect with his parish, and Paddy, an ageing storyteller whose tales carry the community’s heart and soul.
The reading will take place in the Coach House at 8pm, with doors opening at 7.30pm on the evening, and complimentary refreshments, sponsored by Guinness, will be served ahead of the performance.
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Set in a rural Irish village in the 1970s, Seanchaí follows Rory, a young priest struggling to connect with his parish, and Paddy, an aging storyteller whose words carry more weight than any sermon. As the community gathers in the local pub—its true spiritual centre—tensions rise, secrets unravel, and stories become the lifeblood of healing.
Through humour, folklore, and fierce confrontations, the play explores the power of storytelling to bridge generations, confront trauma, and offer redemption. When tragedy strikes, the village must reckon with silence, sacrifice, and the stories that survive us.
The production features an impressive cast of nine actors. Tim Evans stars as the Seanchaí, with Jack O’Connell as Fr Rory and Miriam Ball as Maura. Stephen Roche plays Caoimhín, with Jeanne O’Connor taking the role of Caoimhín’s wife and narrator, and Philip Wright plays the role of ‘Mickey’. Eoin Fox appears as the Bartender, alongside Donal Ryan and Mark P O’Connor, who also directs.
James Meehan is a secondary school English teacher, Leaving Cert English Examiner and emerging playwright based in the Limerick/Clare area. He graduated from Mary Immaculate College and completed postgraduate studies at Trinity College Dublin.
With over a decade of teaching experience in England, James brings a deep understanding of language, narrative, and character to his creative work. He writes primarily short scripts, one of which was filmed and premiered in Los Angeles in 2024.
Another was selected for the Off The Page Live Reading series as part of May’s Twilight Thursday event. His scripts span genres – from horror and drama to comedy, war, and sci-fi – but are always anchored in the human experience and the complexities of relationships.
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