Laragh variety show celebrates 40 years
Vareity show runs tonight, Friday and Saturday
Laragh Gala variety Group is celebrating the 40th year of the Gala Variety show this week!
The show, which hosts an extravaganza of music, song comedy and dance, was first produced by Frank Leddy, Patsy Smith and Pat Smith and had its origins from the pioneer talent show competitions starting in 1975.
They produced an All-Ireland winning show in 1979 and started the Gala Variety show in 1985.
The show ran for two nights and quickly increased to four nights such was the demand.
Today the talent and variety is as vibrant as ever and the laughter never seems to stop.
The cast hail entirely from the parish, and the young people in the Foróige Club and Laragh Camogie Club play a major role in the show's success each year…and this year will be no exception.
“We are very fortunate to have our Golden Gala Chorus and the wonderful Altar Ego’s Laragh Community Choir and soloists singing an array of songs with mixed harmonies,” says Fionnula Farrelly.
“In terms of comedy, the show has always been a real winner with the public and the packed houses over the years is reflective of that prowess with the laughter factor. They attribute the success of the show to the great community spirit that prevails in the area, not to mention the participation of generations of families. There is a cast of 120, ranging in age from 14 years to 80.”
Meanwhile, 2024 was a special year as the Laragh Gala Variety Show was honoured at the prestigious Pride of Place community awards, coming out on top to win the Creative Communities Category.
Judges praised the role the Variety Show played in community life adding: ‘It is a vital part of the social life of a village bringing together a huge cross-section of the community from performers to script-writers, stagehands, costume and set designers’.
“The community is indeed ‘Proud Laragh’s’ to be able to continue the founders' legacy and they hope to do so for many years to come,” Michael Leddy added.
The show runs until Saturday, April 26 with doors opening at 7.45pm. The show kicks off at 9pm.
"We look forward to Celebrating the 40th anniversary with nights full of dance, laughter and joy.”
Elsewhere, tickets can be purchased on ClubSpot, with a limited number available on the door each night.
Check out Facebook/Instagram Laragh Gala Variety Show for more details.