Noeline Haylett sent another trailer load of goods over to Ghana today. Here are some of the images of the day.
Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
ALI BABA - the panto in Buncrana
Oh yes they have…. The Buncrana Pantomime Society have, yet again come up with a colourful and entertaining display of local acting talent…. complete with flamboyant costumes and a vibrant set.
Large Cast
The Inishowen Independent managed to get backstage and chat to the producer Willie Doherty to find out exactly just how much work goes in to putting on a show in St Mary’s Hall in Buncrana. The atmosphere was buzzing as the last minute costume and make up preparations were being made. “At any one time there are at least 100 people backstage” Willie explains when I spot him amongst the throng. “The cast consists of 60 adults and 120 children, although not all on the same night.” The Pantomime is directed by Nicola McLaughlin from the town who has graduated this year in speech and drama
Willie Doherty from Buncrana obviously has a passion for the Panto. He has been involved in the pantomime since its beginnings back in 1976 when his brother Neil was the driving force behind the shows. Neil stepped down in 2007 and Willie stepped into his brother’s shoes. This year is the first year Willie has produced the pantomime on his own. Back in May, Willie had to decide on the story for the show. It had been eleven years since Buncrana had put on Ali Baba and he thought it would be a fun one to do. After he made this decision, he had to find music to fit each scene. “Finding appropriate music to add can be a very time consuming job as it’s important to set the right mood,” he explains. Auditions then took place and rehearsals started last September 2008.
It’s ten minutes before curtain up and the seats are nearly all full apart from the queue at the well-stocked sweet counter downstairs in the foyer. All of the children are in costume and waiting patiently. “We have three groups of children and they play either Lizards, Nymphs, Ladybirds, Bees or Sun Fairies.” Willie continues as the cast start to make their way nearer to the stage. “Indirectly there are at least 400 people involved in making this pantomime a reality. We have the orchestra, production team, costume designers and sewing team, ushers, set designers and builders, catering, booking staff, a whole team of unseen volunteers and of course keepers to look after Mabel the Camel when she isn’t working.”
Charity
Does the show make any money? “It does make a profit and all of the money goes back into the local parish. There is a big restoration job at the Cockhill Parish church so hopefully most of it will be used for that.” Willie tells us.
Joking Around
We asked Willie who decides the cutting jokes for the Panto. “That job is left to the two comedians Eunan McConnell (playing Omar) and Eddie Murphy (playing Sharif) They do a lot of ad-libbing and find out before hand who is coming to see the show. It depends if it’s person they can directly joke about or if there are relations in the audience. No-one is safe but thankfully everyone who is mentioned takes it well. Some people even get annoyed if they don’t get a mention, as there is a certain element of notoriety about it. It’s a no holes barred event that changes every day and will include polititians, local business people or anyone who is known well in the community.”
The curtain is about to go up and before he gets too distracted, I ask Willie what he thinks the annual Pantomime brings to the town.
A Ray of Sunshine
“ In this present economic climate and being the darkest time of the year after Christmas, I think it gives people a lift and brings a bit of welcome colour into peoples days. It’s best to put the show on now although we have been known to run past St Patrick’s day, but that’s a bit late.” Willie jokes putting on his microphone to keep in touch with the cast members on stage. The curtain is going up. The audience are clapping and the cast members are all smiling…. It’s going to be a fun night.
Willie reminds us as he walks to the stage “We are already planning next years production…. Watch this space…
Ali Baba started on the 11th of January and goes on until the 31st of January. There are 18 shows all together. Performances start at 8 pm. Matinee performances on Sundays at 3pm. They have a rest on Friday and Sunday nights.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
5 MINUTES WITH - NOELINE HAYLETT
Noëline Haylett lives just outside Westport in County Mayo and originally comes from South Africa. Noëline first came to Ireland in 1978 and works caring for people with special needs. She founded Mayo Animal Welfare, which takes in injured wildlife from all over the country. And, on top of that, she supports a community in Ghana. Her reputation has spread to Inishowen and local people have sponsored orphans and made donations to support her work.
Noëline has been raising money and sending containers out to Ghana for the past twelve years including four ambulances, a bus and a tractor. Known as ‘Mama’ to the locals in Ghana, Noëline has set up a sewing school, a bakery, she has built a school with her SSIA money, several health clinics and bore holes for fresh water. Her next container is being sent out in June and she is hoping to find a boat with an outboard engine to send over to the inhabitants of Dwarf Island. This is located in Lake Volta, the world’s largest man-made lake. Every year a large number of people drown in the small ferry boats that travel to the island. If any-one could donate a boat or lifejackets, or for more information contact Noëline on 09841484
What kind of music do you listen to?
I like ethnic drumming and folk music. But when I am on the move I listen to Marian Finucane on radio 1. I enjoy the human-interest stories and interviews.
What would you never throw away?
I would never throw anything away! If I break a plate I would use the pieces for a mosaic. Everything has its uses and if I can’t use it, someone else can.
What books are you reading?
The life of Edith Stein. Edith was a German Jewess philosopher, who became a Carmelite nun. She became a martyr and saint of the Catholic Church. She died in Auschwitz. In the bathroom I have books on gardening and antiques.
Have you been to the cinema recently?
I have been 5 times in the last 30 years! I was taken to see Happy Feet recently, before that I was taken to see Babe.
What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I have no time for reading papers. I use them for wrapping things!
What is your idea of a great night out?
Meeting people and cultivating them to work on the project I run.
What makes a great meal?
Sitting around a campfire in South African bush, roasting large chunks of meat with watermelon. This would be washed down with good strong coffee made on the fire.
How do you relax?
I rarely do -but I have been known to spend two hours in the bath!
What is the world’s most useful invention?
The Swiss army knife. They are even standard issue on space shuttle missions.
What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I wanted to run away to the circus to be a lion tamer. Then I wanted to be a jungle doctor and vet.
Do you go anywhere nice for your holidays?
In 2006 I went over to Ghana to aid the school and borehole building programmes in Ho. Before that I last went away in 1983. With £150 in my pocket I hitchhiked to the Artic, which was a fantastic experience. I slept in boatyards, cemeteries and forests to keep the cost down.
What is your idea of heaven?
I believe in reincarnation so I wouldn’t be there long! I am sure it will be inhabited by animals as well as humans.
What famous people would you invite for dinner?
Nelson Mandela, Ghandi, David Attenborough and Thor Heyerdahl, the adventurer who sailed a raft called Kon-Tiki 4300 miles from South America to the Tuamoto Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
What is your favourite animal?
Dogs and wolves for their loyalty and personality. I have 15 dogs and they are all so different. My favourite animal baby has to be an otter. They are so cute!
What is you biggest fear?
Bicycles, drowning and going blind. I don’t like the thought of being dependent on anyone to get around.
What is your biggest thrill?
Being alive. I nearly died at 26 so every day is a new adventure.
What is the world’s most irritating invention?
Ghetto blasters that play loud music, we don’t want to listen to!
Personal philosophy?
I have three. S**t or get off of the pan, if you think positively, positive things happen and live simply so others may simply live.
What is your idea of a good night in?
Uninterrupted gardening in summer and in winter I like to have a long soak in the bath after all of the animals are fed.
What was your favourite childhood game?
I liked survival games in the bush. I would always have a bag packed full of bandages, dried food, aspirin and a wind up gramophone (with a Strauss LP) I used this for my expeditions and I was always prepared if anyone made a kidnap attempt on us.
Any last words?
I believe in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man. Treat others, as you would like to be treated.
Noëline has been raising money and sending containers out to Ghana for the past twelve years including four ambulances, a bus and a tractor. Known as ‘Mama’ to the locals in Ghana, Noëline has set up a sewing school, a bakery, she has built a school with her SSIA money, several health clinics and bore holes for fresh water. Her next container is being sent out in June and she is hoping to find a boat with an outboard engine to send over to the inhabitants of Dwarf Island. This is located in Lake Volta, the world’s largest man-made lake. Every year a large number of people drown in the small ferry boats that travel to the island. If any-one could donate a boat or lifejackets, or for more information contact Noëline on 09841484
What kind of music do you listen to?
I like ethnic drumming and folk music. But when I am on the move I listen to Marian Finucane on radio 1. I enjoy the human-interest stories and interviews.
What would you never throw away?
I would never throw anything away! If I break a plate I would use the pieces for a mosaic. Everything has its uses and if I can’t use it, someone else can.
What books are you reading?
The life of Edith Stein. Edith was a German Jewess philosopher, who became a Carmelite nun. She became a martyr and saint of the Catholic Church. She died in Auschwitz. In the bathroom I have books on gardening and antiques.
Have you been to the cinema recently?
I have been 5 times in the last 30 years! I was taken to see Happy Feet recently, before that I was taken to see Babe.
What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I have no time for reading papers. I use them for wrapping things!
What is your idea of a great night out?
Meeting people and cultivating them to work on the project I run.
What makes a great meal?
Sitting around a campfire in South African bush, roasting large chunks of meat with watermelon. This would be washed down with good strong coffee made on the fire.
How do you relax?
I rarely do -but I have been known to spend two hours in the bath!
What is the world’s most useful invention?
The Swiss army knife. They are even standard issue on space shuttle missions.
What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I wanted to run away to the circus to be a lion tamer. Then I wanted to be a jungle doctor and vet.
Do you go anywhere nice for your holidays?
In 2006 I went over to Ghana to aid the school and borehole building programmes in Ho. Before that I last went away in 1983. With £150 in my pocket I hitchhiked to the Artic, which was a fantastic experience. I slept in boatyards, cemeteries and forests to keep the cost down.
What is your idea of heaven?
I believe in reincarnation so I wouldn’t be there long! I am sure it will be inhabited by animals as well as humans.
What famous people would you invite for dinner?
Nelson Mandela, Ghandi, David Attenborough and Thor Heyerdahl, the adventurer who sailed a raft called Kon-Tiki 4300 miles from South America to the Tuamoto Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
What is your favourite animal?
Dogs and wolves for their loyalty and personality. I have 15 dogs and they are all so different. My favourite animal baby has to be an otter. They are so cute!
What is you biggest fear?
Bicycles, drowning and going blind. I don’t like the thought of being dependent on anyone to get around.
What is your biggest thrill?
Being alive. I nearly died at 26 so every day is a new adventure.
What is the world’s most irritating invention?
Ghetto blasters that play loud music, we don’t want to listen to!
Personal philosophy?
I have three. S**t or get off of the pan, if you think positively, positive things happen and live simply so others may simply live.
What is your idea of a good night in?
Uninterrupted gardening in summer and in winter I like to have a long soak in the bath after all of the animals are fed.
What was your favourite childhood game?
I liked survival games in the bush. I would always have a bag packed full of bandages, dried food, aspirin and a wind up gramophone (with a Strauss LP) I used this for my expeditions and I was always prepared if anyone made a kidnap attempt on us.
Any last words?
I believe in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man. Treat others, as you would like to be treated.
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