Went to see 'Impact" last night. Excellent. A very important play informing a new audience of the horrendous railway accident. The topic was handled sensitively and acted well. I was in the upper gallery and heard all. Using the guide and tourists at the statue was a very good way to start the play. The scene with children dancing as angels was very poignant. Reading out the names was also an emotional piece of drama and by making it the first list of 30 or so deaths it didn’t take too long. The full list of names at the end with music was again very well done and a tribute to those lives lost. I’m sure lots of relatives must have brought their own stories to you after seeing the play. Well done to Byddi, Malachi and you for taking on the research and writing and producing the play.

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Never write reviews but felt strongly to let you all know that I took my 2 daughters to see Impact last night in Armagh. Wow wow wow what a performance of such a tragedy we were all blown away and enjoyed learning so much about it, soo well written and acted out, huge huge credit to you all super well done, we all look forward to seeing you on the stage again!

Relatives of Thomas McGrath, the ill-fated train driver of the  Sunday school excursion train, travelled from Dundalk

to see last night's production of IMPACT.

Two of Thomas's great,great nieces felt apprehensive as to how their 'Uncle' would be portrayed. They had just recently found

out their family link to the tradgey but came away from the performance with a sence of pride that he tried to stand up for what he

believed was right against  what could be conceived as greed on the part of authority.  

Both loved the production and wished ATG all the best for tonight's (Sat) performance.

L to R Tim, Sandra Woods, Byddi, Linda Martin, Margery  and Malachi

See Aislinn Whyte sing at OMN October 23 click on picture

Dispite heavy rain and ghosts running wild on the City streets, our Open Mic had a great turnout to welcome Glen Wilson for his first visit to Abbey Lane. 

A Richhill man Glen now resides in Portadown where he rubs shoulders with other fine bards in David Braziel and Anesu Mtowa, both of whom have guested here in recent times.

Other poets on the night  were Rachel Toner; John Henderson; and Malachi Kelly. Storytellers: Matthew Toner, Ellen McKenna, Brian Lamb and Kerry Clarke. Musicians and singers: Dennis McCloskey; Aislinn Whyte; Theo Sinton; Peter Kelly; Danny Doran; Frances Lavery and Fergal Donnelly. And then there was Dymphna!

Aislinn Whyte sang 'Gosford's fair Demesne' and got up again to the delight of the audience and sang her rendition of 'Roger the Miller' with the confidence of someone far beyond her young age. We finished off with Danny Doran singing the blues.

Thanks to all who attended, who contributed to the entertainment and those who helped out clearing all away for the youth group in the morning. But especially to our guest poet Glen it was an honour  to have you visit.

Next Open Mic is 24th November ( last of this year) We hope to have Dublin singer/sonwriter Colm Gavin as guest. An up and coming talent who has featured on RTE radio 1, recorded albums and played in Europe and America.

Also, if all goes well, a special invite to a local legend, himself a writer of numerous books and a record holder. So keep Friday night 24th Nov free for another great night's entertainment for £5!

Against the backdrop of 7 Hills Blues festival starting, sellout shows in the MarketPlace Theatre, RyderCup and Patrick Kielty's

 Late Late show on TV among other distractions, we had another full house in Abbey Lane Theatre last Friday.

We were spoilt by the talent on stage throughout the evening from musicians and singers of the highest quality. Poets, writers and yarnspinners graced us with their insight, humour and wit. And an early surprise visit  from St Nicolas himself finished of the night with dreams of white a christmas.

Not only all that, but a wonderful raffle at half time of prizes the like has not been seen for a long time.

No! they wern't out of date or pre-used or recycled. We would like to thank all those who bought tickets on the night even if you didn't win. To the family who cleaned up on prizes......how lucky can you get!

Contributors on the night Terry Christian, wonderful singer songwriter (Downpatrick): Matthew Toner, poet, Armagh: Theo Sinton singer/guitar Tandragee; Byddi Lee, writer/playwrite/author Armagh; Kate McLaughlin solo singer/ techo comedian Armagh: John McAndrew, yarnspinner/storyteller Moira; Note this brilliant young duet, Ruby and Caitlin Quinn guitar and vocals, Co Tyrone; and Dermot McConaghy poet, Lurgan; 

Our guest artist for the evening Conchur White sang songs from his excellent forthcoming debut Album ' Swirling Violets' linktr.ee/ConchurWhite.

This young singer/songwriter regaled the audience with his exceptional voice and guitar playing to their collective delight. A pleasure to have Conchur visit us as our guest and we wish him well in his future musical career.

Hard act to follow but Malachi Kelly ,Armagh made the most of the dying applause for Conchur to start his poetry slot followed by Terry Christian, Matthew Toner, Theo Sinton on second runs the finally but not least Daniel Bacon as 'Santa' had us all singing ' I'm dreaming of a White Christmas' far too early! 

Thanks to all who helped with putting the evening together MC Rachel, Tim (door and bouncer) Raffle tickets (Byddi/Rachel/Malachi and the clean up crew to clear all away for ther Youth Group sessions next morning. 

Our next Open Mic last Friday October 27th, doors open 7.45pm £5 entry ,BYOB. All welcome.

A rousing set from the wonderful 'Woodbees' got us all singing along at this month's Open Mic after an international flavour from our contributors.  Poland, France and England were all represented along with nearer to home Crossgar, Dungannon and the darker reaches of Umgola. 

MC on the night Rachel Toner called for contributions from poet John Henderson with his memories of home town Liverpool. Matthew Toner's short poem  'Over thinking'. CoDown's Joseph Conlon's yarn 'Time for Kindness' and poem 'Teachers'. Up next was Mark Brownlee with an excerpt from his forthcomming novelette themed on mental health ( www.bluemanic.com). This piece, chatting up a French student you fancy when your French is far from fancy .

The eagerly awaited return of Dymphna Ferran, after her lay-up last month, was enthusiastically applauded and she didn't disappoint. Yarns about 'Murphy' , Nuns and asses and doubledecker buses kept us all in laughter.

Malachi Kelly acknowledged the 10th anniversay of Seamus Heaney's passing with the bard's ' The Conway Stewart' and his own poems 'He has matured' and 'Armagh and Don't forget me Da'.

We broke for the much anticipated raffle with some unbelievable prizes being  snapped up by the lucky punters. Then our first Polish contributor swept to the stage. Agata Banc who sang, for the first time in public, a traditional Polish song ' Hey Teksanski'  and another star emerges from Abbey Lane. 

Hard to follow Agata but our guest artists 'The Woodbees' entertain us with golden oldies and sing-a-long tunes for the next few slots Pauline McDonald, Elma McEneaney ( vocals and Ukeleles) and 'Rocky' (guitar).

Dymphna returned and her poem about her own mother passing with dementia was very moving. Malachi's piece on the Art of Conversation and then 'The Woodbee's were enticed back to finish the night with their newly found lead singer Agata who's powerful voice belied her previous shyness. 

All in all another great wee night in Abbey Lane. Thanks go to all the audience who came, contributors and guests 'The Woodbees', ticket collectors, and members who 'cleared the stage' for the next rehearsals of 'Impact' coming to MPT in November. Last but not least Rachel Toner for her exquisite Master of Ceremonies talents.

Remember Flash Fiction Armagh on in the Long Meadow Cider brewery 7th Sept as part of the Armagh Food and Cider Festival . Tickets https://armagh-navancentre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873634928 

Next Open Mic is on 29th September where we continue to give voice to talented poets, writers, musicians, and singers in the homely atmosphere of Abbey Lane Theatre.

Just confirmed as Guest Artists for August OMN 'The Woodbees' Ukulele and singalong band! 

Talented ladies Elma Mc Eneaney and Pauline McDonald front this exciting local group along with organising the ever popular 'Orchard Ukes'. So get your singing voices in order for Friday night and come down to Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh for a night of music, song, poetry and craic. Doors open 7.45pm £5 at door. Slots 5mins on stage under lights with a supportive audience to entertain , BYOB ,Raffle prizes and much more!

 Racquel McKee Poet and Educationalist

Dennis McCloskey: The singing Taxi Driver

What a cracking John Hewitt International Space Station of an Open Mic we had in Abbey Lane this year.

To quote the two Ronnies intro ‘and in a packed programme tonight…’ we had poets and writers, musicians and yarnspinners, singers and storytellers and a three ball juggler telling jokes.

Our talented contributors were POETS; Yvonne Boyle, Stan Galloway, Jay Rafferty, Ger Duffy, Nichole Yurcaba, Raquel McKee, Damien B Donnelly, Siobhan Flynn, Mollie Maguire, John Henderson, Sandra McD-Hill, Rachel Toner, Daniel Bacon and in abstention Dymphna Ferran.

SINGERS/MUSICIANS;  Theo Sinton, Sandra McD-Hill, Thomas Healy, Dennis McCloskey and Conchar White.

WRITERS/YARNS/STORYTELLERS; Therese Morgan, Joy Redmond, Mark Brownlee, Louis Graham and Adrian Millar.

 Our first ever Juggling comedian Brendan Fahy and by no means least our GUEST ARTIST for the night COLIN (Loud jacket) HASSARD who regaled us with his acerbic wit and humour in his unique poetic style.

Thanks also to our audience for their warm reception to all our artists. To Sandra our outdoor Box Office receptionist who squeezed all those fivers off you. To members of Armagh Theatre Group who helped with setting up and clearing away and lastly John Hewitt International Summer School for allowing us to be a small part of such an iconic week in  Armagh City’s calendar.

Our next Open Mic is on 25^th August Abbey Lane Theatre in the heart of old Armagh City 8pm.

Poet: Damien B Donnelly

Brendan Fahy, Juggler and Jokes (at the same time)