St Patrick’s Drama Group Westport is delighted to bring back to the stage the much-loved comedy A Wake in the West by Michael Joe Ginnelly for a special three-night run from Wednesday, 19th November to Friday, 21st November 2025 at Westport Town Hall Theatre.
This revival is particularly poignant, marking 20 years since the group first staged the play, and following the recent passing of its beloved Mulranny playwright, Michael Joe Ginnelly, in May 2025. It also comes on the heels of the group celebrating its 60th Anniversary, making this production a heartfelt tribute to both the enduring legacy of the play and the man behind it. When St Patrick’s Drama Group first staged A Wake in the West in 2005, its popularity soared beyond all expectations, taking the group on a whirlwind journey. Due to unprecedented demand, extra performances were added in Westport, followed by four sold-out shows at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar. The group also brought the play across the waters to sell out audiences in Wembley, London, and even to the Irish American Centre in Chicago in 2006 where the play outsold Christy Moore! Since then, “A Wake in the West” has taken on a life of its own, becoming a firm favourite among drama and theatre groups across Ireland, England, America, and most recently, Canada — a true testament to Michael Joe Ginnelly’s comic genius and his authentic portrayal of Irish life.
Set in a small fishing village in the west of Ireland during the 1970s, A Wake in the West is a rollicking comedy that blends the solemnity of a wake with unrelenting hilarity. When Tom Healy’s last dying wish — to be cremated and have his ashes scattered at sea — throws his family into turmoil, chaos soon follows. With his daughter Mary wistfully trying to put a handle on his "last request" alongside his son Martin, who returns home from America for the funeral - much to the excitement of neighbour Joan, who still clearly holds a candle for the lad. Plans for the village wake become a riot of colourful characters, comic misunderstandings, and unexpected antics. Barney, Tom’s lifelong friend and fellow barfly, vows to carry out the deceased’s wishes — with help from no one, least of all his long-suffering wife Margaret, who must endure both his drinking habits and the bedlam caused by meddling neighbour Rose Davitt's outrageous behaviour. Add in an eccentric doctor, the local priest, and not forgetting the corpse himself in the starring role - the result is a comedy that perfectly captures the spirit, wit, and warmth of 1970s rural Ireland.
The production features a talented cast:
Tom Healy – Pat Gibbons
Mary – Regina McCormack
Doctor John – Ciarán MacSuibhne
Joan – Edwina Rushe
Margaret – Nuala Currid
Rose – Mairéad Ryan
Martin – Cian McNamara
Barney – Michael Hughes
Fr Cassidy – Lennie Grimes
Directed by Tom Navin, the ensemble brings Michael Joe Ginnelly’s comic vision to life with energy, precision, and an affectionate nod to the playwright’s enduring legacy.
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