Sean O’Neill is a well known and highly respected Playwright and Director. He lives in Youghal, where he is happy, comfortable, and back in the town he has loved all his life.
By Denise FitzGerald  Photo: Michael Hussey Youghalonline.com email: news@youghalonline.com

Born in Dublin, the son of a Kilkenny man, Sean remembers being told by his father and uncles many times during his lifetime, that he was related to Fr. Peter O’Neill – the Irish Catholic Priest born in Coona, County Cork in 1757, brother of the famous Fenian Michael O’Neill Crowley.  During those troubled times,  Fr. O’Neill was accused of sanctioning the murder of a United Irishman suspected  of being a Government Spy.  Fr. O’Neill refused to give information, was arrested, received 275 lashes without trial, held in prison for two years, and then transported in 1800 to Australia.   He was released on January 15th 1803 and sailed to Ireland where he was reinstated as Parish Priest of Ballymacoda on July 29th, 1803 and where he remained until his death on June 30th, 1846.   All Youghal natives will be familiar with the memorial erected to his memory in Green Park.

Sean O’Neill may, or may not be related to this much revered son of Youghal but his love of the town and surrounding areas is the reason why he has decided that the World Premier of his new One Man Show, entitled ‘The Passion,’ will be staged in the Mall Arts Centre in Youghal with the opening night on Tuesday March 30th, running through to Saturday, April 3rd. Sean said he had options of premiering in theatres in different cities, including Dublin and Cork, but decided to bring his Show first to the town of Youghal.

Despite studying drama in London in his teens, and working in films following this, Sean’s real love is writing and directing.  Some of the diverse shows with which he was involved include Playboy of the Western World (Director), West Side Story (Director) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, to name but a few.

The title ‘The Passion’ indicates immediately the theme of this One Man Show, but Sean assures that this is a ’Passion’ with a difference.   For several years he tossed the concept around in his mind, and gave great thought to the life of Christ as we have been taught.  This Show, he says, ‘is about an ordinary man doing extraordinary things’.   It tells the story of Christ from the beginning of His ministry at age 30 when he was baptised by John the Baptist.    The story is based on the perspective of humanity, with all the feelings and emotions of man, and the circumstances that moulded the character of Christ.  Why did Christ do what He did?   Why did all of this happen?  What were His thoughts, feelings, ambitions?   How was He to deal with them?

The role of Christ is played by well known Youghal actor, Brian Hogan.   This is a very exciting and challenging role for Brian who, in this Show, will play the diverse parts of not only Christ, but also Peter, Judas, Joseph, and a Centurian.   Sean is delighted with his choice of actor, and says that Brian has all the talents, emotions and, most importantly, he has a ‘presence’ which will captivate any audience.

Sean confirmed that everything to do with this Show is being done on a local level.  All the stage props, carpentry, lighting etc., are in the hands of local Youghal people, and he is delighted to be able to bring employment to the area.

And so, we introduce Sean O’Neill, Playwright and Director, to the people of Youghal where the Fenian, Brian Crowley O’Neill and the Priest, Fr. Peter O’Neill  from Ballymacoda in the 1800s may be his ancestors.  Then again, they may not.

Make a firm date to go along at Easter time, from March 30th to April 3rd to the Mall Arts Centre, and get another perspective on the wonderful theme of Christ, the man, in the World Premier of Sean O‘Neill‘s, ‘The Passion’.

Listen to Roisin Hally’s recorded interview with award nominee Elizabeth Moynihan by clicking the link  here- podcast courtesy of CRY Youghal local radio

Actress/playwright Elizabeth Moynihan formely of Grattan St. Youghal will be interviewed on Youghal local radio CRY this evening (Fri. 20th Nov. 2009). Elizabeth talks about her upbringing, her play, being nominated and her advice for other writers. The interviewer is Roisin Hally and it will be broadcast on Tommy Collins’ Signpost programme at 7pm. Viewers can listen to CRY 104fm live by clicking on the link at the top corner of this page. The interview will also be available as a podcast on the CRY website and on www.youghalonline.com.
See also elizabeth-moynihan-nominated-for-best-radio-play

Elizabeth has been nominated for best radio play the “Cider Queens” at the annual ZeBBies Awards  2009. The ceremony will take place at the Sugar Club in Dublin. The two-part play first aired on RTE Radio 1 Sunday Playhouse last April 2009.The “Cider Queens” a poignant two-part radio play, explores the interlocking lives of three young women in the small-town tedium of 1970s Ireland. A bittersweet Showband soundtrack from the period, all platform shoes and glad-rag Glam rock, brightens an otherwise astringent study of public houses and private violence. The play featured Norma Sheahan, Dawn Bradfield and Jessica Regan.

The awards take place on the Thursday the 26th of Nov. 2009 and Elizabeth’s play is down to the last three in her category.

Listen to Roisin Hally’s recorded interview with award nominee Elizabeth Moynihan by clicking the link  here- podcast courtesy of CRY Youghal local radio

ZEBBIES LIST OF QUALIFYING SCRIPTS 2008 — 2009

The RADIO list below consists of projects for the stage and screen in Ireland each of which was premiered in Ireland between 1st July 2008 and 30th June 2009, and was written by an Irish writer or a writer normally resident in Ireland.

RADIO Category
10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 7! 8! 9! 10!     Kevin Gildea     RTÉ
Across the Narrow Water (Part 1)     Tom Kelly     BBC7
Across the Narrow Water (Part 2)     Tom Kelly     BBC7
Ainglaíocht     Frainc O Murchadha     RTÉ
Avenues of Eternal Peace     Lucy Caldwell     BBC4
Bogboy     Deirdre Kinahan     RTÉ
Cider Queens     Elizabeth Moynihan     RTÉ
Dead Sea Salt Bake     Hilary Fannin     RTÉ
Dignity     Laura McDaid     BBC4
Echoes of War     Gary Mitchell     BBC3
Honeymooners at 3.3.5pm     Joe O’Byrne     RTÉ
I’m From Here     Billy Roche     RTÉ
Lullaby     Francis Turnly     BBC7
Marrying Dad     Gina Moxley     RTÉ
Níl Tú Ag Siúl Amach le lead ón Northside     Brían O Tiomáin     RTÉ
No Going Back     Ron Hutchinson     BBC4
Numb     Eugene O’Brien     RTÉ
Past Imperfect     Lee Gallaher     RTÉ
Point of Departure     Francis Turnly     BBC4
Rosanna, Night Walker     Martin Malone     RTÉ
Smoke And Daggers     Hugh Costello     BBC4
Swimming Around Ireland     Martin Meenan     BBC4
The Crane     Joe O’Byrne     RTÉ
The Forgetting Curve     Hugh Costello     BBC4
The Forgotten     Anne Devlin     BBC4
The Lottery     Shay Linehan     RTÉ
The Rights Of The Child     Frank McGuinness     RTÉ
The Road Wife     Eoin McNamee     BBC4
The Rough Field     John Montague     RTÉ
The Serpent Bequiled Me     Julie Parsons     RTÉ
The Sweet Smell of Cigarette Smoke     Julie Parsons     RTÉ
Thinking Ahead     Jack Olohan     RTÉ
Tricks of the Trade     Martin Duffy     RTÉ
Will you swap knees with me?     John McManus     RTÉ
Woman On A Beach     Claes Johansen     RTÉ