Show marks Flight of the Earls anniversary

A new theatrical production marking the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls will be staged this week.

Running Beast is based on the story of Hugh O’Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone, who with Rory O’Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, fled Ireland in late 1607.

Acted to music from the prize-winning composer Michael Holohan, the production will be staged as part of the Trim Festival of Masks in Co Meath on Wednesday and Thursday evening.

The theatrical showcase combines music and dialogue and stars award-winning actor and writer Donal O’Kelly of Fair City fame.

The action centres around O’Neill’s impending departure from Ireland.

A spokeswoman for the production said: “Hugh O’Neill waits aboard ship in Lough Swilly, hoping his son Conn will arrive before they set sail.

“Dubbed Running Beast by Queen Elizabeth’s court, he sprints back through his tempestuous life and his war against English rule in Ireland.

“He then embarks on what became known as The Flight of the Earls,” she said.

The Running Beast musicians include uilleann piper Mick O’Brien, a string quartet comprising Maire Breatnach and Steve Larkin on fiddles, Simone Mendonca on viola and Diane O’Keeffe on cello, along with American bassist Dan Bodwell, Michael Holohan on keyboard and percussionist Robbie Harris.

Following this week’s performances in Trim, the production will travel to Rome where it will be staged at the Irish Ambassador’s residence next Saturday.

From there it will move to the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris before returning to Ireland for performances at the National Concert Hall on November 4 and the National Gallery on November 25.

Running Beast is supported by Culture Ireland, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the national celebration of Shared Histories organised by the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.