‘A Papal Blessing’ play touring Kerry and West Limerick

A NEW play from Killarney playwright Ray O’Sullivan is guaranteed to create a holy show all over Kerry and West Limerick this winter.

Ray of course is best knowm for his critically acclaimed play ‘The Rise and Rise of the HealyRaes’ and now he is back with his latest work, entitled ‘A Papal Blessing’.

‘A Papal Blessing’ tells the hilarious and sometimes deeply-poignant story of friends Martin and Seanie who were among the 300,000 people who attended the Youth Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul 11 in 1979.

Both young men were at that Mass to witness the late Pontiff utter the famous words, “Young people of Ireland, I love you”. But their reasons for travelling to Galway that Autumn day couldn’t be more different.

The consequences are that 40 years on, the Papal visit still casts a long, painful but fascinating shadow over the lives of those affected.

With some hilarious exchanges and comedy-gold moments, the play also goes further to delve into issues of identity, love and the relentless yearning to belong in an ever-changing rural Ireland.

“I’m very proud and excited to stage my second play, following on from the success of “The Rise and Rise of the HealyRaes”, Ray O’Sullivan said.

“I love to give people a good night out with lots of laughter. But in doing that, I also like to explore themes that still urge us to ask questions of ourselves, and even still tend to make us uncomfortable at times.

The play will be staged in Tournafulla on Nove 30, Beaufort Community Centre on Dec 7 and in the INEC on Jan 11.