Eamon Kelly centenary

2014 marked the centenary of the birth of Eamon Kelly. Eamon performed in many Abbey Theatre productions such as Borstal Boy, The Playboy of the Western World and A Crucial week in the Life of a Grocer’s Assistant.  His performance as the Tailor in The Tailor and Ansty was performed both at the Peacock Theatre and in practically every village hall in rural Ireland. This photograph depicts Eamon Kelly in the 1982 production of Stone Mad by Seamus Murphy adapted for stage by Fergus Linehan.  Ever the professional, for this production Eamon acquired stone masonry skills and whilst able to draw on his former life as a master carpenter many audience were amazed by the skills he displayed lending authenticity to the part. Eamon Morrissey recalls how for many years both he and Eamon Kelly performed in their own one man shows in the Peacock Theatre when the Abbey Theatre Company were on their summer holidays. Hear Eamon Morrissey recount this story in The  Peacock Theatre a podcast from our Oral History Project here.