'It's a marvellous occasion," said Michael Leahy. He was not referring his appointment just 24 hours earlier as Galway's new mayor. Rather, he was welcoming the Royal National Theatre and its production of Martin McDonagh's The Cripple Of Inishmaan to the Galway Arts Festival. At a champagne reception before the play, on Tuesday, Leahy - described as the gentleman of Galway politics - paid generous tribute to the arts festival and the festival theatre-programme sponsors, Nortel, who were represented by Kieran Gunning.
After the play, the 400 or so guests were invited to a sit-down dinner served in the Town Hall Theatre's small auditorium. In attendance were Veronica Sutherland, the British ambassador, Michael Philips, the Canadian ambassador and Harold Fish of the British Council, co-sponsors of the Royal National Theatre's trip to Galway.
Absent from the evening's proceedings was the author himself who is reported to be back at his home base in London working on his next project.
Kevin Courtney adds: McDonagh sees his Leenane Trilogy open in London's West End today. Garry Hynes of the Druid Theatre is to direct the show at the Royal Court theatre which is, auspiciously, in St Martin's Lane. The Irish Ambassador, Ted Barrington, will head a big London-Irish contingency, and the English and American press will be out in force to for the brightest new name in Irish theatre. Also coming to the show will be a posse of international producers.