THE high winds of Thursday night might have prevented a planned cruise around Dublin Bay by Irish Ferries' new acquisition The Isle Of Inishmore taking place, but they were no deterrent to the opening night of Calypso Productions' Rosie And Starwars, which was staged in a specially-erected marquee in Meeting House Square.
Charlie O'Neill's work played to a packed house, including Brendan Gleeson - who must be one of the busiest Irish actors around at present, having recently starred in Trojan Eddie, A Further Gesture and I Went Down, coincidentally written by Conor McPherson whose uncle Garret Keogh directed Rosie And Starwars.
Like Trojan Eddie, Rosie And Starwars deals with the relationship between the settled and travelling communities and there was a strong representation from the travelling community including actor Michael Collins from Glen roe and his brother Johnny, who has a show on Cabra Community Radio.
Padraig Breathnach of Macnas is no stranger to big theatrical events and he was there along with fellow Arts Council members Vic Merriman and Eithne Healy.
The play will tour for four weeks and visit six venues. And while The Isle Of Inishmore may have remained moored, invited guests including Minister for the Marine Sean Barrett, Labour TD Joe Costello and RTE's Liam O Murchu enjoyed a meal on board what is the largest passenger ferry in Northern Europe. The ferry makes its first sailing tomorrow.