CONGRATULATIONS: Thurles Musical Society honour long serving member

As the curtain came down on Thurles Musical Society’s blockbusting production of Made in Dagenham, which played to packed audiences for each of its five night run in the Premier Hall last week, a very special event was celebrated on stage.

Long serving member Kathleen Feehan was inducted as an Honorary Life Member of TMS on Friday evening having spent a lifetime on stage, in the wings, at front of house, on committee and doing a host of jobs to keep the show on the road.

And fittingly, considering that Kathleen spent many of her stage-trotting years with her brothers and sister for company, she returned to the stage on this occasion and joined her daughters Sarah and Breda at the invitation of Thurles Musical Society chairperson Éidín Sweeney.

Kathleen Feehan is pictured with members of her family on stage after she had been made an Honorary Life Member of Thurles Musical Society

Kathleen, a leading lady on many occasions who revelled in comic roles, received an incredible ovation from the audience and company members - an ovation befitting her remarkable contribution to musical theatre in Thurles.

And, as the chairperson gave a rundown of her incredible time treading the boards, the regard in which she is held and the appreciation of her work was very evident indeed.

Members of the extended Feehan family later joined Kathleen on stage too for photos to mark the occasion.

She was been presented with a framed certificate acknowledging her Honorary Life Membership, and she now joins Derek O’Connell, Alice Hogan, Mary Guilfoyle, Danny Carroll, Piece Murphy, Brigid Keane, Pat Ivory, Antoin Ó Brian and Mary Butler on that list. Deceased Honorary Members included Alice O'Brien, Canon William Noonan, Kit Butler, Kathleen Skehan, Noel Treacy, Mae Skehan, PJ Hickey, Christy Foyle, Paddy Gleeson, Una Graydon and Nancy Stakelum.

Made in Dagenham was an outstanding success with sold-out shows marking the Society's return to the stage for their annual show - they had staged the Heat is On musical concert last year, but Made in Dagenham was the first show since 2009, as a result of Covid 19.

It was three years in the making, but it was certainly worth waiting for with magnificent music, fantastic acting, choreography, stage, set, costumes and just about everything associated with the production achieving excellence.

A great show directed by Oliver Hurley, with Mary Rose McNally as Musical Director and Siobhan King as Dance Captain.

Made in Dagenham will be long remembered by the cast, chorus, everyone involved and all those who attended as a wonderfully funny, fast-paced, lively show but with serious, tender moments too which told the tale of the strike in the Ford factory in Dagenham, London.

A joy and a pleasure to attend. Take a bow TMS and Kathleen Feehan.

Main Caption: PICTURED: Kathleen Feehan is presented with her Honorary Life Member framed certificate by TMS Chairperson Éidín Sweeney and was joined by her daughters Sarah and Breda, with cast members Patricia McElgunn and Therese Murphy also included.