The promotion of Irish Music, Song, Dance, Drama and the Irish Language, on an amateur basis.
DRAÍOCHT, founded in 1968, is a Dublin based group of people with a kindred interest in the promotion of Irish drama, music, song and dance. We are devoted to preserving and enhancing our distinct and individual traditions and customs. The name “Draíocht” – enchantment - was well chosen as it adequately reflects the magical versatility of our members in the various facets of our arts. We are Irela
nds only “Fit Up” Theatre Group, ensuring the survival of the “One Night Stand/Travelling Show. We have been on the road now for almost 50 years and the way we operate has withstood the test of time. As a self-funding and non- profit making organisation, we work completely voluntarily for the benefit of various communities, clubs and charities. When invited to help provide a fundraising opportunity, we arrive at a hall in the afternoon, build our stage and sets, perform our play, dismantle our stage and sets, pack up and go home. And in the true tradition of the fit up group everyone contributes - on stage, back stage, front of house, construction, lights, sound, make up, costumes, props - it’s all hands on deck! All proceeds from the night go to the nominated worthy cause.
50 years on and the group is as vibrant and enthusiastic as ever. We are proud to have some founder members working alongside established and also newer, younger members. Our elders are always anxious to share unselfishly their experiences and knowledge. Our ethos is based on respect at all times for everyone, creating a family spirit based on sincere friendship and always giving nothing less than our very best at all times. Draíocht performs a different play every year, rehearsing during the Winter months and performing our play during the Spring. We are very excited that our production this year is ‘Juno and the Paycock’ by Sean O’Casey. Our productions over the years have included:
The Year of the Hiker, JB Keane
Dancing at Lughnasa, Brian Friel
The Playboy of the Western World, John Millington Synge
Play On, Rick Abbot
Sive, JB Keane
Same Old Moon, Geraldine Aron
Many Young Men of Twenty, JB Keane
When the Cats Away, John Mortimer and Brian Cooke
Sharon’s Grave, JB Keane
Drama at Inis, Lennox Robinson
The Field, JB Keane
Professor Tim, George Shiels
Big Maggie, JB Keane
The Shadow of a Gunman, Sean O’Casey
The Odd Couple, Neil Simon
The Beauty Queen of Lenane, Martin McDonagh
Autumn Fire, TC Murray
I Do Not Like Thee Dr. Fell, Bernard Farrell
The Lonesome West, Martin McDonagh
Home is the Hero, Walter Macken
The Heart’s A Wonder (Musical Version of the Playboy of the Western World)
On the Set Dancing front, in 1988 in celebration of the Millennium the Draíocht Dancers composed the Dublin Set to fill a void as no specific set dance had been attributed to the Capital. This set now takes its place in the annals of traditional set dancing. In 1989, to celebrate twenty one years on the road, Draíocht undertook a trip to America and Canada bringing ‘Juno and the Paycock’ and ‘The Hearts a Wonder’ to New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Toronto. In the intervening years we have visited Belgium, England, the islands off the west coast of Ireland and parishes across the four provinces from Belfast to Castletownbere. To celebrate our upcoming 50th Anniversary in 2018, plans are in progress for a return visit to the United States with another major Irish production. For more information on the group, please contact Stasia Clerkin (087 6848156) or Aoibheann Dunne (087 2737284)
