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My debut broadcast takes place tomorrow when KCLR 96fm airs ‘Cow’ – a 40 minute radio drama I wrote and produced. ‘Cow’ goes out at 11am Irish time, April 1st, Easter Monday (that’s midday on mainland Europe, 6am New York, 9pm Melbourne) and can be accessed via the KCLR 96fm website, by clicking on the ‘listen live’ button.

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, ‘Cow’ tells the story of Agi, a beautiful Hungarian woman with a secret who arrives on Damien and Marie Cleary’s farm in Glenmore to work as a mushroom picker. The Clearys’ already strained, childless marriage appears under further threat by her presence. An unlikely friendship develops between Marie and Agi however, leading both women to a new world view.

In a light hearted fashion, ‘Cow’ views the rural South East through the eyes of a foreigner bemused by cultural mainstays such as hurling and camogie, D.J. Carey, pub culture and the power of Smithwick’s beer. The forty-minute drama also explores contemporary issues such as Eastern European immigration into rural Ireland and social perceptions of women, both immigrant and native.

Do turn on and tune in…

Arts Alert!! The Contemporary European Drama Review at UEA, April 11th – 13th, consists of rehearsed readings of five plays from Austria, Hungary, Ireland and the UK. My play ‘Shellakybooky’ is the final performance, 8pm Sat. 13th, April. I’m playing ‘Mar’ – the ugly sister (Hmmm, maybe I should do a re-write… ha!).

Synopsis:

Budapest, Hungary, April 2013. When Mar Roache travels from Ireland to Hungary to stay with her sister Brigette Cooney and family, she is impressed by her sister’s seemingly idyllic expat existence. Brigette simply ‘does not do negativity’ and her days are full of champagne and origami classes. All is not how it seems, however, and cracks are soon evident in the Cooney’s perfect veneer. A mistress, a graffiti-obsessed son, an anarchist and a gay minister focused on change, all combine to shake the Cooney’s world and expose its fragility as the country’s political problems arrive on their doorstep.

Do come along if you’re in the Norwich area. And don’t forget, my radio play ‘Cow’ is to be broadcast on KCLR 96fm on April 1^st, 11am (local Irish time). The broadcast can be accessed online via the station website.

Easter Monday, 11 a.m. (local Irish time), sees KCLR 96fm broadcast ‘Cow’, a radio drama set in Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny.

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, ‘Cow’ tells the story of Agi, a beautiful Hungarian woman with a secret who arrives on Damien and Marie Cleary’s farm in Glenmore to work as a mushroom picker. The Clearys’ already strained, childless marriage appears under further threat by her presence. An unlikely friendship develops between Marie and Agi however, leading both women to a new world view.

In a light hearted fashion, ‘Cow’ views the rural South East through the eyes of a foreigner bemused by cultural mainstays such as hurling and camogie, D.J. Carey, pub culture and the power of Smithwick’s beer. The forty-minute drama also explores contemporary issues such as Eastern European immigration into rural Ireland and social perceptions of women, both immigrant and native.

Director Jim Nolan is a founder member of Red Kettle Theatre Company and a former Writer in Association with the Abbey Theatre. He is a member of Aosdana. ‘Cow’ was written and produced by Sue Healy, a native of Waterford City who has won seven national awards for her writing, including the Molly Keane Prize. Her award-winning play ‘Shellakybooky’ is one of six chosen for performance at the Contemporary European Drama Review, Norwich, UK, in April this year. ‘Cow’ features Waterford actor Michael Power, who recently shot an episode of Game of Thrones for HBO and is currently in rehearsals for Richard II with the Abbey Players. ‘Cow’ also stars BBC Radio 4 veteran Madeleine Brolly, an Oxford-born actor whose family hails from Clonoulty Co. Tipperary and Dublin-based actor Geraldine Crowley of Barrabehy, Co. Kilkenny. ‘Cow’ was edited by senior BBC sound engineer Eugene Sully – who is probably best known as the runner-up in Big Brother 6.

‘Cow’ will be broadcast by KCLR 96fm after the 11am news on April 1^st (Easter Monday). The play can also be simultaneously streamed live via the KCLR 96fm website.

Poster by Amelia Power Design.