Castleconnor Amateur Drama Group

Presents

MUNGO's MANSION

 (a 3 Act play by Walter Macken)

(Buttermilk Lane, Galway circa. 1940)

It’s a 3 Act play, set in 1940, in a tenement called Buttermilk Lane in Galway “City of the Tribes”. In the early 19 th century, Buttermilk Lane (Bothar na Sudairi in Irish) had been quite a posh little street, providing lodgings for the visiting dignitaries such as judges and barristers. By 1940 however its buildings were all tenements and the occupants lived in very poor conditions. The corporation then planned to re-house the occupants in Shantalla, and this play is about the locals views on this and also their dream of winning the “Sweep”, something which was seen as the solution to all their problems.

Mungo’s dream of striking it rich by winning the Irish Sweepstakes and his dependence on others to help him attain this goal results in some amusing situations.

Information: The Government in 1930 established “The Irish Sweepstakes” , as a scheme to raise money to build Irish hospitals. The “Sweep” as it became known, was a gambling event that took advantage of the love of the Irish around the world for a good horse race. If you were lucky enough to have a ticket that was drawn with a horse, then you stood to win a lot of money should the horse win. As gambling was illegal in many countries, many tickets were bought abroad and helped make it a huge success. By the time it ceased in 1987, £150 million was raised for Irish hospitals and over £270 million was paid out in prizes. The current Lotto replaced it in 1988.

Cast

Mungo King Michael McDonnell
Mairtin King (his son)Francis Barrett
Nellie King (his daughter)Linda Sweeney
Winnie Gilheaney Lorraine Naughton
Mr. Skerrit (landlord agent) Jim Curran
Mowleogs Canavan (journeyman) John Judge
Jack Manders (neighbour) John O'Regan
Mrs. Manders (neighbour) Mary Howley
The Doctor Thomas Tuffy
Voice of Mungo's wife Marie Tuffy
Voice of Maggie Badgers Christina Flynn
Voice of radio announcer Thomas Tuffy
Children's voices Fiona Coyne, Ronan Barrett, Barry Judge, Allison Ray, Kevin McDonnell,Aisling Fleming, Sheila Cullen,GrainneBoland, John Mc Donnell.

Producer/Director Tommy Barrett