Pictured on the stage of the Linenhall Theatre, Castlebar after their performances at the sell-out concert to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the birth of the Castlebar-born Diva, Margaret Burke Sheridan, Siobhan Kilkelly, Helene Hutchinson Murray, Anne Marie Gibbons, Anne Chambers and Hubert Francis.

Honouring Margaret Burke Sheridan on the 130th anniversary of her birth in Castlebar on 15 October at her grave in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.

A concert and exhibition in her honour will take place on 30 October at 8pm in the Linenhall Theatre, Castlebar.

UNA CRAWFORD & BRYAN MURRAY

'Going to a new play is always interesting. There are no preceived ideas and nothing to compare it to.

"Matriarchs" is a play about two very powerful women, Elizabeth 1st of England and Grace O'Malley the Pirate Queen. From the moment the play opened you were drawn into the battle of wits between these two women, Graces son, Tibbott Burke and Robert, the Earl of Essex. It is about love, marriage, power and the challenges posed by female ageing

Ann Chambers dialog ue was powerful and surefooted, discriptive and dramatic and well served by all three actors.

Regina McCormack as Grace O'Malley brought a great earthiness to the role of the Pirate Queen and Bronach Joyce as Elizabeth 1st was regal, haughty and commanding. Conor Clarke played both Tibbott and Essex with great contrast and confidence.

Lighting and direction were spot on and the scene changes were seamless.

This is a play that leaves you wanting to know more about Grace O'Malley and deserves to be seen by a wider audience.'

John Rubin

'Just imagine I had to travel to the West Coast of Ireland to learn from a wonderful new play by Irish author Anne Chambers about a piece of Anglo-Irish history that has evaded me all these years, despite all the films and books on The Tudors and all the Documentaries made by the eminent Professor Dr David Starkey.

I will not tell you what I learnt and do a "spoiler" about this first play, so well written produced and directed by the author, but I will say that the staging and acting was of the highest standard and the story quite riveting. A sell out production each night with queues of people waiting and hoping in vain for ticket returns and in the end unfortunate to miss an excellent night's entertainment'.

Mary Darcy 

"We attended Matriarchs and loved it. So fabulous a performance...it got a standing ovation. Terrific performance by the aptly named Regina McCormack as Grace O. Elizabeth Regina was played by Bronagh Joyce whom I took to be
English so good was the accent. Earl of Essex was played by a school boy who was remarkably good for his age.

The whole notion of Grace O'Malley seemed mythical and yet she did exist. How she managed to have a mind of her own and leadership qualities at a time when the Church patriarchs (as well as husbands/fathers) did your thinking for you - is puzzling. Great scriptwriting by Anne C. She's certainly a marvel.''

The Board and Management of Westport Town Theatre are delighted to announce that MATRIARCHS a new 2 act play will have its Irish premier in the Theatre on 30 & 31 August at 8pm.

Written and directed by Grace O’Malley’s biographer, Anne Chambers, it stars Regina McCormack as Grace O’Malley, Bronach Joyce as Queen Elizabeth I and Conor Clarke as Tibbott Bourke/Earl of Essex.

The meeting of the Pirate Queen of Ireland, Grace O’Malley, and the Virgin Queen of England, Elizabeth I, is a fascinating historical event, having brought together two iconic female leaders imbued with a lifetime of experience and knowledge.

MATRIARCHS is a drama about women’s relationships with fathers, husbands, lovers and sons; about the boundaries placed on women by society, marriage, motherhood and love; the juggling of a career with family life; breaching the boundaries of male power and bias and the challenges posed by female ageing. What Grace O’Malley and Queen Elizabeth I have to say may explain why these two female trailblazers remain as relevant today as they were over four hundred years ago.

'International focus on issues such as gender equality, female empowerment as well as ageism make the themes inherent in this drama resonate even more today. Grace O’Malley and Queen Elizabeth I shine as inspirational beacons to what women every where can achieve, even like them, in the most demanding and difficult environments.’ Anne Chambers

Tickets 20 euro now available from www.westporttheatre.com