50 Anniversary Year

Birr Stage Guild 1958 - 2008

To commerate the 2008 we designed a special 50th Anniversary Logo.

Wow!! what a year as our special 50th anniversary year comes to an end and we close another historical chapter in the life of Birr Stage Guild. We would like to thank all the member of Birr Stage Guild past and present, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls all who supported us through out this remarkable milestone year for Birr Stage Guild. in the coming days as we prepare for the Festive Season we at Birr Stage Guild would like to extend to you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New Year and look forward to seeing you again in 2009.

Birr Stage Guild would like to say a big thank you to all who helped to make the recent 50th Anniversary Celebrations such a memorable and enjoyable occasion.

To patrons, sponsors and advertisers, both on this occasion and through the years, who enable the Guild to meet the high costs of productions. To committee members, sub-committees, past and present members, friends and well-wishers, who gave their time and talents to the celebratory mass, the exhibition, and the G&S production. To all who contributed to the 50th Anniversary Magazine, in particular Tony Hogan, editor, and Sean Hanniffy, photoarchivest. To all from near and far who attended the events of the weekend. To the special guests of the 50th Anniversary year, Annie Noonan, Gerry Dolan and Frank McNamara for celebrating with us and passing the legacy of BIRR STAGE GUILD on to the next generation.

At the inaugural meeting on October 23^rd 1957 chaired by Dr John Lucey, with Mr. J.I Fanning as Director of Productions, Birr Stage Guild was charged with responsibility for ‘the maintenance of cultural activities in the town, sponsoring plays, pantomimes, operas, educational films, lectures and other subjects of cultural interest to the town and region.

While our calendar of productions is impressive it does not include the many educational and artistic initiatives which BSG has facilitated, organised and funded such as Youth Dance, Children’s Theatre Summer Camps, Choral Festivals, and training courses in performance, technical expertise and directing.