The Parish Hall.

Dances were held sometimes twice a week on Sunday nights and Wednesday Extensions went on at first until 3.00a.m. But later by law had to stop at 1.00 a.m. Admission one shilling. Girls under 18 were not admitted (which is law).

The bands at the start were Patie Shea Keelohane, Mick Doyle Listry, and Mick Sullivan Lahard. Then came Sullivans Ballymalis, Mick and Flor. Later came Neilus

Mc Govern Fossa, Patie Sullivan Cappaganeen and Patrick Doyle Meanus. Then came Davy Breen, Michael Doyle Meanus, Denis Mc Gillycuddy, Denis Moriarty Gap, John Clifford, Danny Coffey, and Denis Crowley.

On the opening of the Hall, several shots were fired into it. Politics ran very high at that time 1932 and even though the district was full of guards nobody was arrested. Patie Coffey in the Office had a narrow escape as a revolver bullet buried itself in the wood, inches away from his head. However, dances continued and even flourished.

The first home – produced entertainment was a concert in the old Cullina School under very primitive conditions for concerts.

It was run by Very Rev. E. Fitzmaurice P.P. and the chief artist were Patie Shea (fiddle), Paddy Doyle (Cappaganeen), Melodeon, Jerry O’Connor (Songs), Gilbert Fitzgerald (Songs), and choruses of school – boys and recitations from the Boree Log by Mai Curran and Mai Clifford now both nuns.

“Gordie’s Bazaar” a travelling show by a Scotsman had a number of raffles and plenty Scottish songs and very valuable prizes and he performed in Shanahan’s Hall and was full every night of the week for about 6 weeks. The crowds came, mostly women and somebody said that one lady furnished her house with prizes won at “Gordies”.

In 1935 when Shanahan’s New Hall he again turned up in full Scottish regalia, kilt and all. When in 1932 Rev. Michael Dennehy became our Curate, he organised a Group of Catholic Boy Scouts (8^th Kerry) and it was at that time Beaufort entered the field of Drama.

Fr. Dennehy produced two plays, “Hunt the Hare” and “On the Run” again in bad conditions for drama. However, they were a great success and the seeds were sown and so we can look back today on almost fifty years of involvement in drama.

After that we ventured into 3 Act plays and staged “Paid in his own Coin” and the cast were Patie Coffey (Glebe), Tom Mack (Carubeg), John Coffey and Batty Coffey (Carnahone), John Clifford (Ards), Donal Leane (Tullig), Pat Ferris (Dunloe), pat Sheehy (Coolmagort), and Richard Fitzgerald (Clydagh). From then on to 1936 a one act play plus a concert was produced every year and always included the Boy Scouts’ Flateolet Band trained by Jim Kennedy N.T. Kilgobnet. Things fell flat from 1937 to 1940 when our local Company of the L.D.F. (F.C.A.) took over and produced some hilarious concerts, those taking part were Alfie Smith and Doney Collins (Killarney), Dermot Lantry and Patsy Casey (Lahard), Jamesy Sullivan, John Sullivan, John D. O’Connor, John O’Brien (Cullina), Dave Shea (Fossa), Patrick Sullivan, Pete Coghlan and Brendan Sheehy (Beaufort).

Fr. Noel Moran then Curate produced Synge’s ‘The Shadow of the Glen’ and Lady Gregory’s ‘Spreading the News’. We learned a good deal from Fr. Moran re. Lighting etc. as he had great experience as a producer.

Perhaps our greatest success with the Pantomime “Cinderella” produced by Pete Coghlan with script from Steve Shea, Tom Shea and John Clifford. Noel Shanahan and Denis Crowley as the “Ugly Sisters” took down the house and the big cast came from all parts of the parish.

The famous “Siamsa Tire” with full cast visited us and found stage equipment and audience first class.

The “Tops of the Parish” were introduced by Fr. A. O’Callaghan and were a huge success has raised huge competition and rivalry between the different groups and more than full houses were the order. Fr. O’Callaghan also produced “Biddy” competitions with great success.

Towards the end of the 60’s Muintir Na Tire began Drama Festivals for one-act plays and the Beaufort Group won the top award on three successive years and the players were:

“Hewers of Coal”, “The Valiant” and “Bishop’s Move” and with the last play entered the Kerry Drama Festival in Killarney and were highly commended.

In the early 70’s another original show with script by Steve Shea NT called “Parnell” based on the great Parnell’s visit to Beaufort in 1891. It bristled with novel ideas, voices from people planted in the audience, bands marching through the aisle of the Hall and numerous hecklers from the floor.

Again Muintir Na Tire took on One-Act plays and again Beaufort was successful with “Claudia” scripted by Steve O’Shea in 1974. In 1972 when the new Hall was blessed and declared open by Bishop Eamonn Casey Kilgobnet C.C.E. put on a sketch and variety show including of course, a few songs from his lordship.

About 1975 a new novel idea was introduced called “Tradisiun”. It was the brainchild of Steve O’Shea, meant to attract tourists from neighbouring hotels. It had a slight colour of “Siamsa Tire” with people at their usual rural work, cutting turf, saving hay etc. etc., interprised with song and dance. Production was a joint effort by Steve O’Shea, Mrs. Bracken, Tom O’Shea, Paddy Breen (Shanacloon), Jenny Clifford, Michael O’Donoghue, Fr. Michael Murphy and Danny Coffey.

As the 70’s moved on Fr. Murphy introduced young new talent in One-Act Plays, which were very successful and in the meantime two Three Act Plays were done with the usual cast and Pete Coughlan as producer. They were “Don’t bother to unpack”, and “All the King’s Horses”. Two Plays with a very topical story.

The group won back the Muintir na Tíre Cup again in 1979 with a Play called “Day of Atonement”, with a cast of John Clifford, Debbie Joy, Denis Crowley, Noel Shanahan and Pete Coughlan producer.

In all the group produced thirty-one plays since it’s inception, not a bad record! One great feature held on the last Sunday of the year in the Parish Hall was the Annual Fancy Dress Parade and Dance. Competition was of a very high standard and generally whoever won in Beaufort were also successful in other places such as Killarney, Milltown Killorglin and Kenmare. Who will forget the Coffeys (Barrets) and Moriartys (Barneys) and Hartnett in such perfect turnout as “The Baloobas”, “Arkle”, and “The Fowl Pest”.

The mothers of two of the most famous Irish Actors were born here, namely Mrs. Nora O’Connor; mother of Donal Donnelly and Mrs. Ellen O’Sullivan was mother of Niall Toibin. Perhaps it is from here they got their wit and humour as they spent most of their school holidays here. Besides catering for plays and dances the Parish Hall is also most convenient for meetings of all organisations – G.A.A., Pioneers, Badminton Club and I.F.A. Lectures and Courses on important topics are given there such as First Aid, Keep Fit, Tree Growing and Souvenir Making etc.etc. Drill Hall for F.C.A.