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Get your DVD On A Wing and a Prayer The Musical: Local Outlets:  Castlebar: Castle Books/McLoughlins; Castlerea: John Tully, Pharmacy; Crossmolina: Quinns; Knock: Hospice Office Knock/J.J. Byrnes/Heneghans; Manorhamilton: O’Maras Pharmacy; Roscommon: McGuinness Pharmacy; Strokestown: Hanleys Spar; Tubbercurry: Gillespies; Westport: The Book Shop, Bridge St/Hobans Centra; The Hospice Shops in Swinford, Castlerea & Roscommon, and Mayo Roscommon Hospice at Knock; Balla: Roches Centra; Ballina: Rouse Jewellers; Ballinrobe: Murphys Newsagents; Ballymote: Lavins; Ballaghaderreen: Towey’s; Ballyhaunis : The Gem; Ballyheane: Stauntons; Bangor Erris: Brogan’s; Belmullet: Brogan’s; Charlestown: Bargain Box Bellaghy; Claremorris: Smyths.

For American/Canadian versions contact Mayo Rosocmmon Hospice, Knock, Co Mayo   www.hospice.ie

 Paypal ordering  facilities at hospice site.

Latest on DVD: Tommy Marren reports that work on the Musical DVD has been completed and there will be a special premiere of the ‘movie’ in Ballina for those connected with On a Wing and a Prayer in a few days time. So get ready to walk the red carpet!!
Meanwhile Pat Jennings of Theatre Royal reports brisk demand for tickets for the final two shows on May 5 and 7. Also: Look out for special on Monsignor Horan Centenary in Ireland’s Own early May.

NEW YORK: Three of my Hanley relatives (currently living in Dublin) saw the Musical this time around and absolutely loved it; the story line and music were quite memorable for them.  I offer my congratulations to all, creator, writers, the cast and all involved. I know that the Play may be too big to take on the road but if you ever need a connection over here, I would be happy to be that person (or one of them anyway).

TENNESSEE: Wonderful to hear about all the packed shows, and gor such a great cause. A wonderful piece of art has been created!

 DUBLIN: What a great show! Travelled from Dublin and came away lifted. Bring it up to Dublin and let them see what the West is capable of.

 LONDON: Flew over for the show, into Knock. Fantastic night. Monsignor Horan would have smiled. Long live the dream. The West End surely beckons!

GALWAY: We truly enjoyed it. It was a fantastic production and a great cast and I won’t be surprised to see it being brought over to the US. And of course the TF is a fantastic venue. I am now going off to buy the book.

BREAKING NEWS:  MAY SHOWS!!!  Back by popular demand- The Musical On A Wing and A Prayer Show is to be performed again at the Royal Theatre in Castlebar on THURSDAY May 5th and , SATURDAY, May 7th, 2011. at 8pm nightly.  Shows to mark centenay of birth of Monsignor James Horan. Also launch of spectacular DVD featuring the Musical On A  Wing and a Prayer and details on the remarkable life of Monsignor Horan.  A must have. Tell your friends. Send a lovely present abroad!    Spread the word!!!

A great big THANK YOU to all who made this dream possible. You have all been truly amazing. You have shown what Mayo and the West can do…to Cynthia Clampett, CEO Mayo Roscommon Hospice, for believing in the Show and picking up a huge challenge, to Tommy Marren for getting so deeply involved on many levels and doing it all like the real pro he is, to Lavinia Slater Gilmartin for yet again working her magic and wowing the audiences; to the wonderful talent in the region, actors, singers, dancers, set designers, wardrobe, sound and lighting engineers, songwriters, back stage crew. To all the media, local and national, Jim Fahy and Michael Murphy of RTE, to Dana for her guest appearance on the Thursday night, to Liam Lyons photographer Westport for the portrait photo of Monsignor Horan, also to Ballina Office Supplies and Barry Williams  for their help in that project; to everyone at home and overseas who have made contact and have been so positive and encouraging. Space does not permit here to mention everyone by name, but that does not mean your role was any the less important (see full list of cast etc on this site)- To everyone, again, THANK YOU.  You were wonderful, you did succeed, you did win!  Up the West!!!  Terry Reilly

Standing ovations greeted the premiere performances of on On a Wing and A Prayer- The musical in The Royal Theatre Castlebar, Co Mayo (Nov 25 to 27). Despite blinding snow and icy conditions, the impressive theatre, which accommodates 2,000 people, was packed, and the Mayo Roscommon Hospice received all monies from the performances.

There were 125 actors/singers/dancers of all ages on the stage, 99 per cent of whom were amateurs, but ever so professional. The singing was out of the top drawer, the music unlifting and unspiring as the story of Monsignor James Horan unwound in colourful detail  over  almost 2 and a half hours.

Despite the adverse weather conditions, people travelled from all over the country, from surrounding counties, from Dublin,  from the north of Ireland and from England for the premiere.

The attendance on various nights included former Government minister Padraig Flynn and airport builder Frank Harrington and family members of the Horan family, and also family members of the team who formed the initial Board of Connaugh Regional Airport, later Horan International Airport, now called Ireland West Airport Knock, and perhaps more commonly known as Knock Airport. 

People have been ringing n to the local radio station, Mid West Radio, asking when will be show be perfomed again, if it is going to Dublin, to England or America?  No decisions have been taken on  future dates/locations…first everyone will enjoy a well earned rest!  Terry Reilly, the creator and co-writer with Tommy Marren, said the response of the public was most heartening, and he had been inundated with telephone calls from well -wishers.

On final night on stage  Terry Reilly said he was humbled at the magnificence of the cast and production, and humbled by the support from the general public, and said that though Ireland was going through a tough economic phase, the resilience of the people would see us through, as they had when Monsignor James Horan was building his airport in the dark and dreary 1980s.

Tommy Marren, who also produced the show and was the narrator, said it had been an amazing journey over many months of auditions and rehearsals, and he too paid tribute to the cast and backstage crew, designers, and the many who had worked behind the scenes. Special tribute was accorded to Lavinia Slater-Gilmartin, the musical director, who worked wonders to ensure a musically brilliant and entertaining show.

To mark their input presentations were made by Ollie Rouse (who played the older Monsignor Horan so brilliantly) on behalf of the cast to Terry Reilly, Tommy Marren, Lavinia Slater-Gilmartin and Cynthia Clampett, Co-Ordinator, CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice and who also played Dame Judy Coyne in the show. A  number of other presentations were also made to members of the cast and backstage crew, including Eileen Slevin who did a brilliant job as set designer. See cast list under Production & Cast .

Mayo Man of the Year Joe Kennedy, who was Chief Patron of the show, was unstinting in his praise of  the production. The attendance included a visiting party under the Peace 111 initiative from Banbridge, Co Down, and from Belfast, who were brought to the show by Sean and Peggy Owens of the Banada (Co Sligo) Development Agency.

Also in the attendance was former Mayo All-Ireland winner of 1950/51  Fr Peter Quinn, Liam Scollan, Joe Gilmore and staff from Ireland West Airport; Peter Hynes, Mayo County Manager;  Chairperson of the Western Development Commission,  Michael Farrell; Sean Hannick,  Chair Council for the West, Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam, V Rev Joseph Quinn, PP Knock, and members of the regional media, members of the Mayo Associaiton in Dublin.

Master of Ceremonies each night was the popular Gerry Glennon, of Mid West Radio.

Stay tuned for future updates and scroll on for previous news!

A young Fr James Horan (Patrick Lacken) and an older Monsignor James Horan (Ollie Rouse) pictured at Ireland West Airport. Photo Copyright: Henry Wills

The story of how a west of Ireland priest convinced the Irish government to build an airport in the middle of a disadvantaged, depopulated region in East Mayo when the country was in dire financial straits will be retold when ‘On A Wing and a Prayer – The Musical’ takes to the stage.

Author Terry Reilly, who wrote the best-selling book On A Wing and a Prayer, has adapted the work for a stage production that will bring to life the many herculean undertakings and amazing achievements of Monsignor James Horan, parish priest of Knock, told in word and song.

The event will have its world premiere in November at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar, Co Mayo. All proceeds from those four shows (which run from November 25-27, 2010) will go to the Mayo/Roscommon Hospice Foundation.

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