For the first time ever, Mountmellick Macra na Feirme have won the national FBD Capers competition final.
On Saturday March 5, in Cappoquin Community Centre, hosted by Waterford Macra na Feirme, Mountmellick Macra’s show ‘Mountmellick’s World of Entertainment’ won 1st place.
Capers is a twenty-minute variety show with a mixture of musical numbers, disco dance, comedy sketches, historical pieces and is similar to the John Player ‘Tops of the Town’ show.
The Capers competition is seen as a replacement for ‘Tops of the Town’ in rural Ireland.
AC Reynolds, producer of the show, said: “We are delighted to bring the national title home to Mountmellick for the first time.
“The show has been in the works since last October and we have worked tirelessly to put together a show that captures both the essence of the Capers competition and Mountmellick Macra.
“It has long been an ambition for the club to win the golden title and we are happy to announce that 2022 is the year we have done it.
“We would like to thank each and every person who helped us on this journey and paved the way for Mountmellick to bring home the trophy.”
On the night Mountmellick Macra also scooped two other prizes, AC Reynolds won Best Producer and one of the comedy acts in the show, the ‘TV Sketch’, won best act.
This was written by cast member Colette Cashin and performed Colin Fitzpatrick, Gearoid Dempsey, Amy Strong, Mairead McEvoy, Helen Dempsey and Colette Cashin.
The cast was led by producer AC Reynolds and included Colette Cashin, Colin Fitzpatrick, Amy Strong, Gearoid Dempsey, Helen Dempsey, Mairead McEvoy, Alanah Conroy, Katelyn Dempsey, Makenzie Brooks, Sadhbh O’Neill, Joanne Teehan, Chris Joyce and Kellie Fox.
The backstage crew consisted of Shane Fitzpatrick, Aidan Moore and Kevin Scott with Larry Ryan on lighting and Yvonne O’Neill on sound.
A special thanks to Louise Ahern the show’s choreographer, Emer Dunne the Irish dance choreographer, Rosemary Whelan the team’s vocal coach and to long term mentor of Mountmellick Macra Larry Ryan.
Mountmellick Macra have reached the Capers national finals a total of 12 times and have placed 2nd and 3rd many times, last achieving 2nd place in the All-Ireland Final in 2019.
Mountmellick Macra has a long-established link to the Capers show having competed in the twenty-minute variety show competition over 20 years.
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