On the Town: There were many young men aged 20 and older at the world premiere of the musical epic, I, Keano, which opened in Dublin's Olympia Theatre this week.
Members of the Irish rugby team, including Reggie Corrigan, captain Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara, Guy Easterby and Peter Stringer, enjoyed the comedy ahead of today's Six Nations' match against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Also spotted in the audience were Gay Byrne, Linda Martin, Twink, comedians Ardal O'Hanlon, Deirdre O'Kane and Pauline McLynn, athlete Eamon Coughlan, broadcasters Ray Darcy, Ian Dempsey and Shay Healy (with his wife, Dymphna), commentator Des Cahill, actor Liam Cunningham (who recently featured in the RTÉ TV series, Showbands), and Keith Duffy, of Coronation Street.
"I think what we are getting is a football comedy crowd, so that's good. It's a bit different tonight, I think, because they bring a raucous football atmosphere to it," said Arthur Mathews, co-writer of I, Keano with Michael Nugent, at the interval.
The newly appointed director designate of the Abbey Theatre, Fiach Mac Conghail, and his wife, actor Bríd Ní Neachtain, were also among the many guests who attended the opening night. Eithne Healy, chair of the Abbey Theatre and Ali Curran, director of the Peacock, were there too.
"It's pantomine and soap opera and all those sorts of things that people love," said Pat Mulvihill, a teacher and a former restaurateur, who enjoyed the show.
David Dwyer, a Co Laois man based in Connemara, Co Galway, said the show was "good fun", mentioning Dessie Gallagher (as Macartacus) as being particularly good.
After the final chorus, all the boys - including Keano himself (played by Mario Rosenstock), Packie Bonnerus (played by Paul McGlinchey) and Quinness (played by Risteárd Cooper) - took several bows before joining the theatre-goers at a party at Sin on Sycamore Street.
I, Keano continues at the Olympia Theatre until Saturday, March 5th