Half of Waterford city seems to be at the opening of Jim Nolan's new play, Blackwater Angel, in the Abbey this week. Liam Rellis, general manager of the city's Red Kettle Theatre Company, points out several neighbours. Actor Linda Gough is in attendance. At least 20 Decies denizens arrive in a bus. The playwright's older brother, John Nolan, with his partner, Mags Browne, is here with his mother, Alice Nolan and siblings Caroline Nolan and Brian Nolan - all cheering Jim on. In fact, it's rumoured the author himself is hidden away watching a soccer match - Liverpool v Chelsea. It was a draw, in the end.
Cheekpoint, Co Waterford man, Clem Jacob, of Sam Hire Ltd, who is hailed as a major sponsor of the arts in the city, is here. From the city's Forum Theatre come Ciaran and Siobhan O'Neill. Also spotted in the audience are luminaries such as Billy McCarthy, controller of programmes at WLR FM; the actor Anna Manahan and pianist Dearbhla Collins (whose mother is from Affane in Co Waterford where the play is set) with her fiance, David Davin Power, soon to be announced as RTE's new political correspondent.
Proud drama-school director Patrick Sutton and his wife Mo Sutton are here too, noting all the graduates of the Gaiety School of Acting up on the stage. They count five actors in the production.
Also loving the play are Margaret Bradley, financial controller of the Abbey, with her two friends Mary Gilsenan and Kathleen Kinsella, who is from Mooncoin, Waterford. And the play is deemed a Suir winner by all.