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Published: June 28th 2011
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The Cripple ON Inishmaan
Great Poster outside An Halla We had spotted a poster in Kilronan advertising that Druid were playing on Inis Meain the next day, Sunday. They were doing Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inismaan. So Moritz called the box office to be told that it was sold out but that we were going on a stand-by list so Sunday afternoon we made that short hop over to the fantastic new harbour. Its only about 3 or 4 miles and we tied up in 3m of water. We had caught two mackarel on the way over but we decided to see if we could sort oout the tickets before we ate. A taxi materialised out of nowhere and we were brought to the Hall. The stage crew were there and they toldnus to come back at 1930 when the box office opened. They also said that 'now that we were here' we'd hardly be left outside. Back to the boat on the taxi for fish and spuds. The we walked back to the hall on a beautiful evening. There were people hanging about outside, most hoping to get a ticket. One guy said that he had booked his six months earlier. A Druid photographer said that the New
Shane and Moritz
We're on an island so we can't be lost! York Times were covering the event and had suggested that they might put a picture on the front page. When we got to the top of the queue Moritz used his charm to pursuade the woman thar there were tickets waiting for us which of course she could not find but eventually relented and gave us two!!! Happy days. Off to the pub for a quick pint befor returning to get out seats in the third row. What followed was a masterpice of theatre. This is not McDonaghs best play but ther production and the accting was superb. The two aunts, particularly Kate, played by Ingrid Craigie were wonderful and I must admit had me in tears in the first act with their intense love of Cripple Billy.
There was a fifteen minute interval. I was half expecting a raffle! But no raffle and no kids with crips and coke. I was admiring the sun setting when I spotted Moritz talking to this tall, striking figure. None other than McDonagh himself. I took a few pics. He was chatty and friendly. There was a standing ovation at the end and you could see that the cast were delighted. This was
Inishmaan Harbour
Inishmaan has a great new harbour the final show of a tour that had played right across the USA. There is only one pub and it was packed. The cast were there and they were all in great form Martin McDonagh was the centre of attraction and he chatted and posed and joked for the whole evening. I met an old sailing buddy of mine, Pat Ryan. He introduced me to his mum , Breda, who is a patron of Druid. There wasa girl playing the guitar but nobody could hear a thing with the racket....
We got some great pictures and some very funny video as the sun was coming up! Back on board about 0500 and slept til 1000.
We had met a chap called Shane at the gig who was camping near the harbour and he joined us for breakfast before we did a four hour stroll around the island. It was a beautiful sunny day. The first really good day since the Baltimore to Castletown leg. The island ios stunning in the warm sunshine and there are countless small fields full of wildflowers. We walked the shoreline at low tide and the scent of the flowers and the dry sea weeds was
outside the pub..... 4 am
Martin McDonagh, Tadgh who played the cripple and Moritz wonderful. This island is exquisitively beautiful. I was so happy to be there. Moritz had a swim in the ocean. We met a man cutting hay with a scythe. Another man was clearing weeds with a sickle. Another very old man was sitting in the sun by his donkey and cart. We visited a very big pre-christian ring fort and looked about us to the Cliffs of Moher, Hags Head, The Loop in the distanve and the 12 bens to the NW of us. It was magic.
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