Three stars off theh panto are honoured:
THREE of Drogheda’s outstanding comedians and stars of the local panto for decades - Joe ‘ Tec’ Caffrey, Jimmy Fagan and Joe Cluskey - have been honoured forever with the unveiling of a plaque at the Barbican Centre.
Local councillor Frank Godfrey facilitated the project after Kitty Fagan McGahey, daughter of the later Jimmy Fagan, suggested that some kind of permanent honour should be afforded the three comic legends.
‘ The pantomime added colour to an otherwise Black & White life! No colour television and not many channels to choose from!
The panto offered real family entertainment to all ages,’ Frank explained.
‘It gave everyone the chance to perform and even made stars of some of them – look at one of the most famous dames of recent years, Ciaran Leddy, and remembering great Simple Simons, the late Robbie Tiernan, and John Kirwan to name but a few.’
He said Joe, Tec and Jimmy were really unique. ‘ They created laughter wherever they appeared and made a vast contribution to the community of Drogheda. And we are talking about the days when times were tough. That’s back in the 1960s & 70s when we were facing unemployment and emigration, facing the dole queue or the boat. And yet, these comedians made us laugh. As we sat in those seats in The Parochial Centre, munching sweets bought across the road in Carrs or Duffys or McCreeshes, we forgot our troubles and worries and laughed – thanks to these comedy legends.’
A hard working committee got behind the project and artist Yoram Drori took on the role.
He operates the Irish Celtic Art Studio in Castleblayney Enterprise Centre and has received awards for Best Traditional Gift at the Spring fair and RDS Showcase in Dublin. He has also been honoured by President Michael D Higgins and his work is to be seen in prominent places, north and south of the border.
Funding came from the likes of the Barbican Centre board, the Arts Dept of Louth County Council, Drogheda pantomime society, Drogheda Credit Union, and a number of donations from members of the public, business and other sponsors.
‘Huge thanks also to the Barbican board members who were happy to have this wonderful piece of artwork hung in the venue where these comedians worked their magic,’ Frank added.
He particularly thanked the hardworking committee – dedicated chairperson Declan Power, a magnificent secretary in Jane Campbell, hard working treasurer Kitty McGahey and others like Pat Donaghy, Ciaran Leddy, Gaye Martin (who wrote a poem about the three legends ), Cora Keogh, Noeleen Mohan and Fiona O’Connell.
Two ‘veterans’ of the panto down the years, Ciaran and Tommy Leddy, remembered the trio, Ciaran liking ‘ Tec’ to Jimmy O’Dea.
The likes of the Community Services Centre, St Ita’s, the Alzheimer’s group and others benefitted down the years and sometimes shows would run for three weeks.
Mayor Pio Smith said the honoured three were ‘institutions in their own right’ and they gave so much of their time to help their community. ‘Maybe we are missing a bit of that attitude in Drogheda at the present time,’ he added.