HAVING had a very enthusiastic response to his one-man show A Night in November at the Hope Café in Shannon, Aodán Fox is putting on three extra shows on October 13, 14 and 15.
The play is about the night of the infamous soccer match between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at Windsor Park in 1993, when a hateful atmosphere prevailed.
It leads to Kenneth Norman McAllister, a Protestant who has previously been anti Catholic, starting to question his beliefs and identity.
Aodán says he has been amazed by the response to the play. “I’m blown away by the reaction to be honest. The first three nights that we did sold out within a couple of days. A lot of people were asking me about it, a lot of people who were away and a lot of people who wanted to see it again.
“It had a bit of traction so we decided to put it on again for another two nights. We put it up on Monday morning and opened up the booking online.
“By lunchtime we had sold out the two nights. We decided then to add a third night, but that’s it, my body wouldn’t be able for any more!”
Shannon has many residents who are originally from the North and it has struck a chord with them.
“A lot of them waited to meet me afterwards and were very teary. To be honest I think the language of the play really resonated with them, and brought back many memories.
“My own mother came to it and was very tearful at the end, just to hear that language. It’s quite a hard hitting piece, but it does get quite humorous in a lot of places and the feedback has been great.”
He is very excited at the prospect of next week’s extra shows.
“I’m delighted to get the chance to do it again to be honest. It’s not very often you get to do a play on your own and it’s very flattering to think there’s such a demand to see it, so I’m very excited that we’re doing it for another three nights.”
The night of the match at Windsor Park was overshadowed by the poisonous and intimidating atmosphere, but it ended in triumph for the Republic as a 1-1 draw was enough to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.
The game was played shortly after nine people were killed by an IRA bomb on the Shankill Road, followed by a loyalist gun attack in Greysteel Co Derry, in which another eight people were killed.
Republic fans who were there on the night frequently spoke of the nasty atmosphere on the night, and the occasion has continued to resonate over the years.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.