A star is born occasionally at CADA drama school in Cork

CADA Performing Arts drama school in Cork, having successfully staged the musical CATS, is now preparing for Les Miserables, at the Firkin Crane theatre. Catherine Mahon-Buckley, CADA’s unflappable director, takes the enormous undertaking in her stride.

The school has produced incredible talent — Sarah Greene, who played opposite Daniel Radcliffe in The Cripple of Inishmaan; Keith Hanley, who won The Voice of Ireland a couple of years back; and Claudia Rose Long, who was a hit on The Voice UK recently — and every new term brings more hopefuls.

Having nurtured young talent for three decades, Mahon-Buckley has seen many changes.