John B.

Keanes
Director

Fintan Whelan

Stage Manager

Barry Deignan

Backstage

Damien Quinn

Set Construction

Jimmy Staunton
The Cast

Set Painting

Mire Hynes
Lucy Cunningham
Karen Williams

Costumes

Mire Hynes

Poster

Mire Hynes

Publicity

Michael Leydon

Advertising Boards Fintan Whelan

Lighting Design

Nick Mc Call

Lighting Operation Karol Kelly

John Gunning
Programme

The
Year
of the
Hiker
Directed by Fintan Whelan

Damien Quinn

Hawks Well Theatre, Sligo

Nov. 25th - 29th, 2003

in order of appearance
Freda

Aisling Mc Nulty

Simey

Jack Rogers

Mary

Mairad Clancy

Kate

Siobhn Dooney

Joe

Ronan Brennan

Hiker

Gerry Ryan

Willie

Mark Dunne

The action takes place in the kitchen of the Lacy farmhouse.

Act 1
Scene 1
Scene 2

Early morning, September

Nightfall, same day

Special thanks to the following for their help

and co-operation with the production:
Brian Devaney
Coolera Dramatic Society
John Mc Dwyer (Beezneez Theatre)

Act 2
Scene 1
Scene 2

Born in Listowel, Co. Kerry in 1928, John B. Keane

became one of Irelands best known and most influential playwrights. He was a founder member of the
Society of Irish Playwrights and a member of
Aosdna, the affiliation of creative artists, since 1984.
He died in May, 2002. Among his well known plays
are Sive (1959), The Man From Clare (1962), The
Field (1965), Big Maggie (1969), Moll (1971), The
Chastitute (1979). Written in 1963, The Year of the
Hiker tells the story of the Hiker Lacy who returns to
the home place twenty years after abandoning his
family and taking to the roads. His untimely return on
the day of his daughters wedding sends shockwaves
throughout the family. It is initially unclear why this
ghost from the past has suddenly returned but as the
play unfolds, the reasons for his return, as well as the
reasons for his departure, become startlingly clear.

Night time, one month later

Lunch time, the following day

Sligo Grammar School

Michael Whelan
Ursula Smullen

Act 3
Late evening, a few weeks later

An interval of 15 minutes takes place between scenes one and

two of Act 2

Francis Heraghty
Nick Mc Call
Staff of the Hawks Well Theatre