Writer: Shauna Carrick
Director: Muireann Kelly
An Taibhdhearc presents the coming-of-age musical Saoirse as part of the Galway International Arts Festival 2026. Saoirse is an Irish language production which resonates beautifully with the summer vibes of a busy Galway city. The night begins with an upbeat musical number celebrating all things summer holidays as a group of young teens head off to an Ghaeltacht for their three-week long immersion in the Irish language. The cast is large by today’s standards, five actors playing the students and five playing various adults, and throughout there is an admirable sense of commitment and enjoyment from all which transmits to the audience. The primary storyline centres around anxious Saoirse, played sensitively by Ciara Cox, mean-girl-who-comes-right-in-the-end Róisín played by Evanne Kilgallon, and Dublin Northsider scholarship girl Aoife, portrayed by Síofra Ní Éilí. All three give the roles their everything: singing, dancing and acting outstandingly. The themes of young love and heartbreak, friendship betrayals, and revenge by social media are pertinent and written and performed in a charming, appealing manner. However the sweet, nonconfrontational tone is missing any harder edges or sharper humour; the play is more ‘Annie’ than ‘Glee’ or ‘Grease’ in the Gaeltacht!
Writer and composer Shauna Carrick’s secondary theme stages concerns commonplace throughout Ireland’s Gaeltacht region, including the lack of a proper housing policy to allow families from the Gaeltacht remain in Irish-speaking areas and therefore protect and keep the Irish language alive. Bean an Tí Nuala (the girls’ host played so well by Lesley Conroy), Múinteoir Tara (the teacher, an excellent Juliette Crosbie) and teacher assistant Siobhán (an animated Ursula Early) bring real passion and reality to the performance as they plan to save the college and bring their protest to the powers that be in Dublin. Colm Mac Gearailt plays Liam adroitly as a more cynical wearied persona who has little faith in the women’s ability to enact change. Despite the serious nature of these concerns the songs and musical elements of the play continue to assert hope and the value of community and friendship throughout the performance. Supporting roles played by Elliot Nolan, Callum Maxwell and Co-composer Aidan Byrne provide a strong backing both musically and acting-wise for the main protagonists. The play has an advocate’s heart beneath a candy-floss veneer: all singing, all dancing but performing issues such as homophobia and housing rights for vulnerable communities portrayed through song and stage.
One of the notable aspects of this production is how well it plays to a young teenage audience, both in the personas of the actors and in the fun, buzzy atmosphere it exudes on this hot summer night in the theatre. An Taibhdhearc often produces and stages family shows but it is great to see this particular cohort being centre stage. For a general audience, the play is sweet, fun and thought-provoking with great acting and notably admirable singing from the three female students in particular. Director Muireann Kelly and Choreographer Meadhbh Lyons make the mechanics of the performance flow and look smooth, admirably supported by a set design that allows easy movement while the projected mobile phone screen on the back wall and timely disco lighting add clever touches to the staging. Sweet gentle story-telling and well-performed musical artistry make Saoirse easy viewing for all.
Runs Until 26th July 2026.
