The Old Road

Summary

1961 BBC studio recording ‘from the North of England’ of Michael Molly’s Irish comedy, The Old Road.

Theatre play

Old Road by Michael J. Molloy (1917-1994) [more information]

Play synopsis

Set in rural Galway in the spring and summer of 1939. The spectre of the Second World War looms large over a group of young people who are desperate to escape to a better life in England. The action takes place in the household of the choleric, cantankerous and tyrannical old farmer [...], who, desperate for a wife, engages the services of the mercenary matchmaker William Duffy. In the meanwhile, love blossoms between the Lord’s servants, the cool and happy-go-lucky Cosgrave and the damsel-in-distress McDonagh who do their best to deny their passion for each other’ (adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._J._Molloy).

Production history

Produced at the Abbey Theatre in 1943.

Date of transmission

Monday 20 March 1961

Time

8.45-9.45pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

George R. Foa

Playwright

Michael J. Molloy (1917-1994)

Designer

Kenneth Lawson

Cast

Anthony Booth	Myles Cosgrove
Jack Cunningham	Patrick Walsh
Fiona Duncan	Brigid McDonogh
Harry Hutchinson	William Duffy
Dermot Kelly	Luke McSweeney
Dermot MacDowell	Sergeant
Sheila Manahan	Mary Kennedy
Alan [or Allan] McClelland	Paak Merrigan
Brian O’Higgins	Bodagh Merrigan
Margaret Whiting	Mrs Callaghan

Additional details

Origination

Recorded in studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Play tags

Irish drama; Republic of Ireland, as theme or setting

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 16 March 1961 (Magazine)

Linking notes

illustrated article, pp. 22-23; listing, p. 25