The extraordinary story of the life and times of the late Monsignor James Horan, builder of Knock Airport, is to be retold later this year when ‘On A Wing and a Prayer-The Musical’ takes to the stage for its premiere at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar.
The Musical will be performed at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar, from November 25 to 27 next. Tickets for 'On a Wing and a Prayer' are now on sale at the Customer Services Desk at Ireland West Airport Knock priced at just €25 per ticket. For further information call (094) 9368100
Author Terry Reilly, who wrote the best-selling book On A Wing and a Prayer, has adapted the work for a stage production that will bring to life the many great undertakings and amazing achievements of Monsignor Horan, told in word and song.
Proceeds from the November shows will go to the Mayo/Roscommon Hospice which
must raise in excess of 1 million euro each year through donations and fundraising efforts to maintain its palliative care service in the two counties.
Cynthia Clampett, Chief Executive Mayo/Roscommon Hospice Foundation based at Knock, said the Palliative Care Service in Mayo and Roscommon was heavily dependent on voluntary funding.
“Unfortunately the economic downturn has impacted severely on fundraising and as the HSE continue to cut back on services the Palliative Care Teams are calling on the Foundation more and more to meet the increasing needs of patients and their families. Providentially, Terry Reilly has generously offered the proceeds from the first performances of his novel and entertaining musical and it will now be a case of all systems go to ensure its success.”
The Foundation’s Palliative Care Teams cater for patients with cancer and other life limiting illness such as Motor Neurone, Muscular Dystrophy, MS and end-stage dementia, heart failure, etc. The service is available for patients in their own homes and in hospitals and nursing homes throughout the two counties, with comfort, dignity and respect at its core.
The number of patients, both adults and children, being referred to the Service has increased annually since its inception in 1992. In 2009 565 patients were catered for by the palliative Home Care Teams alone, in Mayo 363 and in Roscommon 202.
The musical traces the career of Monsignor Horan (born 1911-died 1986) whose life was spent addressing the spiritual and temporal needs of his flock. He got houses fixed, roads repaired, forests planted, took on the authorities, and even built a ballroom of romance to which Old Nick was reputed to have paid a visit - without paying the admission fee!
Monsignor Horan transformed Knock Shrine into the country's major pilgrimage attraction by building up a range of amenities and erecting a major Basilica, and he was instrumental in bringing, in 1979, Pope Paul 2 to mark the Centenary of the Apparition.
His last great fight, his biggest and most controversial campaign by far, was when he started, at the age of 70, to build an international airport in 1981 on what was described as 'a foggy, boggy hill'. His reason for the airport was to provide badly needed infrastructure for an impoverished, neglected region. Initially Government blessed his enterprise, but then did a series of U-turns as the tide of Dublin 4 opinion turned, forcing the withdrawal of Exchequer support and leaving an ageing parish priest to raise many millions to finish his final project.
He succeeded in opening his dream airport in 1986, but the effort hastened his demise and he passed away in Lourdes a few months later. Ironically, his coffin was the first into Knock Airport as thousands flocked to pay homage to their hero. Of course, his vision, his dream, succeeded as he said it would.
In the interim millions of people have used the Airport, and countless jobs are being created in an area once known as the Black Triangle in East Mayo.
On A Wing and a Prayer- The Musical is a tribute to the heroic endeavor of an old man in a hurry. It also heralds the 100th anniversary of his birth to be celebrated in May 2011.
Said Terry Reilly: “By any measure, the life of Monsignor Horan and his commitment to his people and the region would be hard to surpass. It had everything, concern for people, enterprise, colour, humour, pathos, immense energy, unique vision, victory over adversity, and much more. The objective of the musical is to transmit this wonderful Horan package to the stage in an entertaining, uplifting manner. The hope is that people will enjoy a really
good night out, full of nostalgia and inspiration. Some of the Monsignor’s favourite songs will be featured together with some new ones specially written for the occasion.
“Talented people from the region will take to the stage and bring Horan’s amazing work to life again in what we want to be a memorably colourful production, and all in aid of a great cause within our community” he added.
Look out for further details shortly in local press, or on www.hospice.ie or by contacting the *On A Wing and a Prayer- The Musical will be performed at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar, from November 25 to 27 next.
Foundation’s office at 00353 94 9388666; or www.terry-reilly.com
Tickets for 'On a Wing and a Prayer' are now on sale at the Customer Services Desk at Ireland West Airport Knock priced at €25 per ticket
22 Mar 2017 12:50pm
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