Uncle Tommy back from the dead

Back by popular demand, this time 'Uncle Tommy's Wake' is coming back from the dead to Lurgan.

After two very successful runs in Gilford Community Hall, the play by Stage Aid is coming to Lurgan Town Hall on Friday, May 28 at 8pm.

'Uncle Tommy's Wake' is the third part of Gilford playwright Armand Gaillard's trilogy which began with 'The Spinner's Ball' and was followed by the equally successful 'The Wedding Of Lily Thompson'.

In order to achieve a lifelong ambition, Armand decided some years ago to write and direct his own material, the first of which was 'The Spinner's Ball.'

He took a break from the trilogy to pen 'Love Knows No Right-a-way', 'My Final Destiny' and 'Honeymoon Hotel'. However, in an effort to keep fans happy, the much awaited 'Uncle Tommy's Wake' just had to materialise.

It's the morning after Lily and Hank Byronski's wedding and poor Mrs Fearon, who had been kind enough to host the wedding breakfast the previous morning now has a wake on her hands.

Her brother-in-law, fondly known as 'Uncle Tommy', had suddenly passed away the previous day and with kind dignity, the neighbours are beginning to trickle in, to pay their last respects.

Until now, American Hank had never experienced a true Irish wake. Would he even get leave to attend? What would he think of this custom and tradition?

Of course, as with most things in life, nothing is ever straight forward. But with the true camaraderie that only wartime can bring, Mrs Fearon is confident that she can rely on her neighbours and friends to give Uncle Tommy the send-off that he truly deserves.

Doom and gloom, it is not.

Due to the ongoing generosity of Stage Aid audiences, in the past year alone, they have been able to donate in excess of 5,000 to Third World charities.

Tickets for 'Uncle Tommy's Wake' are available from Express Cleaners in Lurgan or you can pay at the door.