Tá Gráinne, an bainisteoir, ag iarraidh cuma eiseamláireach a chur ar Lios Álainn (agus ar na seanóirí freisin), ach tá na seanadóirí ag pleanáil a gcuid briseadh amach féin — agus ní hé an chéad uair é! I measc ióga ar chathaoireacha, fógraí gleoite, agus rince a bhriseodh cromáin (arís), tagann ceoldráma lán de ghreann, ceol agus craic amach.

Is scéal faoi shaol, faoi ghrá agus faoi éirí as rialacha é An tÉalú — agus léiríonn sé an fhírinne lom: ní stopann spraoi, rince ná pleidhcíocht… fiú sa tigh altranais.

Agus má fheiceann tú iad i bpáirc na háite istoíche? Ná habair le Mom.

Welcome to Lios Álainn — a nursing home so wonderful that its residents want to escape from it every day! At the center of the commotion is Síle: a good, sharp-witted woman who is far too clever to be controlled. With friends as deaf as Liúsaí, as grumpy as Tadhg, and as blunt as Tomás, there is never a boring day—if you're still alive to tell the tale.

Gráinne, the manager, is trying to make Lios Álainn (and the elderly residents too) look exemplary, but the seniors are planning their own breakout — and it's not the first time! Amidst chair yoga, lovely announcements, and hip-breaking dancing (again), comes a musical full of humour, music, and craic.

An tÉalú (The Escape) is a story about life, love, and rebelling against the rules — and it reveals the bare truth: the fun, dancing, and mischief never stop… even in a nursing home.

And if you see them in the local park at night? Don't tell Mom.‍

In Irish, with English surtitles.

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Review by Conal Creedon:

"Absolutely blown away - a magical night... This is an emotional rollercoaster of a tale of life and death, and more particularly the reality of life as we face the final chapter. It exposes, explores and lays bare the underbelly of relationships between parents and their children and their grand children at such a pivotal time when the invertibility of our immortality comes into sharp focus.

"An tÉalú – bringing the audience on a wonderful journey from laughing out loud to heartfelt tears.

"The set piece songs and choral arias - so soulful, inspiring and yet driving the story forward all the time.

"An absolutely amazing piece of musical theatre - where the juxtaposition of happiness and humour connects with sadness and tragedy. This is a world where the surrealism of breaking into song connects with the cold face of tragic reality as the audience is lead head long into all singing all dancing magic realism.

"Hats off to Seán Óg Ó Duinnín and production team. It is an amazing accomplishment to write and produce song after song of such quality.

"My personal fluency in the Irish language is not what it should be - and yet assisted by the Surtitle Translation above the stage - nothing was lost on me. Fiona and I attended the play with two visiting American friends - with not a word of the Irish language between them. They also loved it - and were totally carried along the twists and turns of this magical tale. It's true to say that the audience engages with the unfolding drama, story and characters, through the language of our shared humanity.

"Comhghairdeachas agus míle buíochas."

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Briery Gap Box Office Hours | Tuesday to Friday 10am-2pm, and one hour before all events. 

Accessibility Seating | All events at Briery Gap are wheelchair accessible. Contact our Box Office at (026) 39141 or 083 143 6884, or email boxoffice@brierygap.ie.