Drama@Lunch

Isabel Claffey and a host of local talent bring us a lunchtime show of humour, drama and moving moments.

These events are 'Relaxed Performances' to support inclusivity.

Please also note, our Box office will be closed an hour earlier at 1pm during the Lunchtime at the Well series.

May McConnell is from county Meath originally but is a bit of a nomad having lived in the wilds of Norfolk for seven years while working as a teacher and also trained as a part time youth leader there.

Her late husband’s job brought her around five counties in Ireland, finally settling in Sligo forty-two years ago. Choosing not to continue teaching full time when she had her family, she trained as a preschool leader and later became a tutor and in between she completed a diploma in counselling and also did a bit of “scribbling”. Becoming Development officer for two different charities was never planned – it just happened and a bit“like topsy it growed” and she finally retired from paid employment at the age of 70 !

She has recently retired again as volunteer Development officer for Active Retirement Ireland and has now decided “it’s me time” !!!

Tess Kennedy began life in London to Irish parents. She went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music and qualified as a Singing Teacher. She performed in many venues around the UK but her career was in Social Work. She retired to Sligo for her next chapter and is pleased to be part of the Cultural Companions group today.

Ben Flood hails from Cavan now lives in Calry, County Sligo. He took up acting in 2015 and since has appeared in pantomime and musical with Calry Drama Group. He has a performed on stage in the Hawk's Well with Sligo Acts and during Covid produced , directed and performed in two radio plays on ZOOM. He is delighted to be performing in Lunchtime@theWell”

Lovely Joy Yap is a violinist, singer, mixed media artist, registered nurse, entrepreneur, stage thespian in the Philippines. Her music, theatre and film credits are vast and as such only possible to mention just a few. As a violinist, Lovely performed in an orchestral concert conducted by Maestro Michael Dadap in 2012. She has performed as an actor many times, but most recently in Rent the Musical, in 2020. Film credits include "HATUD”(2022) for which she received a best actor nomination. The film went on to win BEST SHORT FILM at Lutas 10th Film Festival, Dumaguete City, Philippines.

Patsy Lyons is a Dromore West girl, now settled in Sligo town. She has a passion and a talent for performing and writing alike. Patsy has performed in a radio play production of Sherlock Holmes at the Hawk’s Well as well as playing her part in both years of Sligo Acts. She made her screen debut in The Miracle Club in 2023. Patsy has taken part in a number of Acting workshop courses at the Hawk’s Well, writing entertaining monologues based on her life experiences and she looks forward to sharing a piece today written especially for Companions@Lunch.

Rory Conneally started playing the piano from an early age finally beginning lessons at the age of 11 with teachers like the brilliant Kieran Quinn and Jazz master Scott Flanigan. With interests in soul artists like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye and Jazz music Rory has attended the Sligo Jazz Project for the past 3 years meeting and/or playing with musicians like Elio Villafranca, Freddie Hendrix and Nils Kavanagh. Now he plays in his Jazz group, The Honey Trio with trumpeter Sean Boni and drummer Cal Halpin.