Passionate 'Woolgatherer' set to entertain Cork audiences

Inspired by a real-life encounter, The Woolgatherer, a play about two neurotic people looking for love, runs at the Cork Arts Theatre from September 2-7.

The play, which had its Irish premiere at The New Theatre in Dublin last year to strong reviews, deals with mental health issues. This is close to actor Sinéad O’Riordan’s heart. A former electronic engineer, she has sunk her savings into setting up a theatre company, Orion Productions, to produce this play. O’Riordan has suffered from depression and says that last year was a tough one, during which she “was pushed over the edge a little bit. I was afraid to mention it to anyone. I think it lingered from post-natal depression. I eventually went to my doctor and started counselling and came out the other end.”

O’Riordan was urged to read The Woolgatherer, which was the first work written by Emmy Award winning playwright, William Mastrosimone. O’Riordan is both the producer of the play and the female lead. The production is in association with Blue Moon Theatre, directed by that company’s David Byrne. Michael Hough plays opposite O’Riordan as Cliff, a truck driver.