THE PLAY

A collage of photos shows scenes from a stage play, actors in period costumes, display boards featuring the Hegarty Collection, and audience members posing with cast. The setting appears to be a community theater or school hall.

The Play

Coláiste Éamann Rís Secondary School, Turners Cross Cork has a very active Drama Club and students are encouraged to become involved and learn about all aspects of producing a play. 

The students became aware of the Hegarty Family when Jim Hegarty visited the school to share the story with them and present copies of “The Hegartys of The Laurels” to the school library.

So, when the Drama Club were looking for a play for their next production, they thought of the Hegartys as the ideal local family to showcase.

When the students mentioned the idea to Maurice Dineen, he offered to show them the screenplay for the upcoming Film and then allowed it to be adapted for the stage.

The Production

The Drama Club students and their Teacher Miss Niamh Fanning worked on the script together and created a wonderful narrative for the audience . Before too long auditions were held and a very talented cast and crew began rehearsals.

The play was a labour of love for over a year with the students researching their characters, designing and making period costumes and building a set similar to the film set. 

Before the Film was shot in “The Laurels”, Maurice arranged for the Drama Club to visit the house with Jim to see where  a lot of The Hegarty’s story took place.

The Performances

On Friday 15th and Saturday 16th March 2024, the students performed “The Hegartys of The Laurels” to very appreciative audiences and they received standing ovations on both nights.

Members of the Hegarty, Forde and Fennell families were there to see their family history on stage and it a very emotional experience for them all.

It was a tremendous honour for the Hegartys that the Drama Club chose our story for their production. Each of the actors were superb and it was very obvious how  invested and passionate they were about their roles.

Many thanks to Coláiste Éamann Rís for allowing us to share this wonderful play with a wider audience.

A group of students in blue school uniforms pose and smile outside a building with a sign that reads The Laurus, echoing the camaraderie seen in The Hegartys of The Laurels from the Hegarty Collection. They stand closely together by a white wall and garage door.

Gallery

Two people stand indoors in front of a whiteboard, each holding a book from the Hegarty Collection. The woman on the left wears a colorful patterned dress; the man on the right, in a navy vest, stands by a desk with books behind them.
An older man is speaking to a classroom of students seated at desks, some listening attentively while others look away. Colorful drawings, including pieces from the Hegarty Collection, are displayed on the white wall behind the students.
Newspaper clipping titled Play about local heroes describes students from Coláiste Éamann Rís preparing a play about The Hegartys of The Laurels, a Cork family featured in the Hegarty Collection, who aided Irish independence. Ticket info included.
A group of people are standing and conversing in a classroom with wooden floors and colorful stacked chairs. Some hold papers or folders from the Hegarty Collection, and posters are displayed on the walls.
Two women stand at a table, focused on an ornate box from the Hegarty Collection. One examines an object while the other observes. Both appear engaged as sunlight filters through red blinds and large windows, capturing a moment with The Hegartys of The Laurels.
Two young women from the Hegarty Collection in vintage-style blouses and long skirts stand in a classroom with stacked chairs. One looks down with her hands in front, while the other crosses her arms and looks at her seriously.
A young person with long hair, wearing a black hat and black outfit, stands indoors in front of large windows, smiling and giving a thumbs-up. Jackets and bags are scattered on chairs and tables—a snapshot from the Hegarty Collection.
A young woman in a white sweater sits next to a young man with a bandaged knee, who is looking down. She appears to be drinking from a small cup or vial. They are seated in a classroom setting, part of the Hegarty Collection.
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