Episode 2:
​Portumna Players Drama Group
In the second of our series of podcasts, listen to past and present members of Portumna Players
​recall their memories, favourite productions and memorable moments.
Portumna Players amateur drama group came into being in 1945 making it one of the oldest community groups in Portumna. The goals of the founder members were:
​
  • to produce amateur dramatic productions
  • to foster the study of the dramatic arts
  • as well as compete in drama competitions
  • an ultimate goal also defined was to eventually build a small theatre in Portumna.
Although decades have passed since those goals were outlined, the core principle of encouraging and sharing a love of the dramatic arts in Portumna and surrounding areas has been upheld. Over 76 years later, a total of 76 productions have entertained generations. This included two trips abroad in more recent times: to the US in 2001 and 2018 to Spain with plans for another Spanish trip in 2020 which had to be cancelled due to Covid.
​In 1995, the Portumna Players leased their own space above the Town Hall affectionately known as The Loft.

​To this day, this is the rehearsal and storage area with connecting walkways to the main stage of the Town Hall.

In 2011, Aideen O’Reilly wrote a comprehensive history,  “Voices in The Loft” – a history in photographs & stories of Portumna Players from 1945-2011.

Aideen’s interest in preserving the history of one of the most enduring amateur drama groups began with a search through her late father Michael’s files.

Hear Patricia Blehein, Marian Frawley, Jim Hynes, Margaret Mansfield and Marie O’Donnell share their highlights of productions past and take a trip down memory lane.
Producer: Kate Gibbs
Sponsorship: Arts Council of Ireland
Presented by Portumna Arts Group
Episode 1:
​St Patrick’s Day in Portumna
In the first in a new series of podcasts listen as locals describe St. Patrick's days of the past.
Casting an eye on Portumna’s parades of the past, Portumna Arts Group invites you to take a trip down memory lane. Relive the buzz on the street, the excitement in the square, the craic on the floats as the participants marched, danced or carried each other in Portumna’s annual parade on tandems, donkeys, ponies and horses, tractors, vintage cars or bicycles. 

Led by marching bands, the school band, an army Colour Party, gymnasts, hurlers and Irish dancers, this spectacle never disappointed the onlookers who lined the streets and it attracted a great variety of entries, full of humour and often with a touch of satire. 
Over the years characters included Dinny from Glenroe, Ben Dunne in a bath of cocaine, Van Morrison taking a swipe at Michelle, guest appearances from presidents like Bill Clinton, Mary Robinson, Obama and Michael D, scenes from Desperate Housewives and The Late Late Show, The Wild West and Garda Patrol, Olympic synchronised swimmers and River Prance. Portumna even launched its very own rocket here in the Square. School musicals revisited, trailers of forthcoming plays and music sessions, it was a case of “around the float and mind the dresser.” Hear Mary Lynch, Dick Ridge and Anne McEntee share their memories of parades of the past and leaves us all with a hunger for parades to come.
​Happy St Patrick’s Day to you all from Shorelines Arts Festival!
 
Producer: Kate Gibbs
Music: Ceolchroí Productions (Ruth Smith and Fergal Scahill)
Sponsorship: Arts Council of Ireland
Presented by Portumna Arts Group