No Pastry for the King, Maynooth 850 Production 2026

An Nuadha Players, in collaboration with Maynooth 850 Local History Group, St Mary’s Brass and Reed Band, and Castle Keep Art group, are delighted to announce our production of No Pastry for the King, written by Declan O’Connor and directed by John Bean.

The play was previously performed by An Nuadha Players in 2008 and we are delighted to bring it back to the stage as part of the Maynooth 850 celebrations.

Maynooth 850 commemorates the town's 850th anniversary (1176–2026), marking the milestone when Strongbow granted lands to the Fitzgerald family to establish the settlement and castle. Spearheaded by the Maynooth Local History Group, the year-long program features lectures, exhibitions, and community festivals.

“Cometh the hour…cometh our Dan.”

The story of No Pastry for the King is inspired by the visit to Maynooth in 1911 of King George V and Queen Mary as part of their coronation tour. The Duke of Leinster invites the town band to lead the royal procession. One Dan Buckley aka Domhnall Ua Buachalla is having none of it. The band politely declines, setting off alarm bells in Dublin Castle. If the foreign papers get wind of this it will cause an international scandal. What’s to be done?

Characters include members of the band committee, some worried officials, gossipy, argumentative, musical locals, an anxious barman, some singing peelers and a goat, with a queen, a couple of kings and a Christmas pastry thrown in for good measure.

St Mary’s Brass and Reed Band will provide the live soundtrack for the production, with original art work by Castle Keep Art group.

The show will run for three nights from 14th – 16th October in St Mary’s Church of Ireland, Maynooth.

Doors open at 7:30pm with a wine reception, and Maynooth Band and Castle Keep Art exhibitions, followed by No Pastry for the King.

Tickets will be free of charge - booking essential.

Wednesday 14th October will be invitation only, with tickets available for Thursday 15th and Friday 16th October online.

More information coming soon.

Donal (Dan) Buckley, Edward O’Farrell, Plus others - Finbarr Coghlan

Arthur, Plus others - Ann Kelly

Tim, Larry, Plus others - Aidan O’Neill

Joe, Mary - Michelle Walsh

Messenger, John, Plus others - Leanne Greene

Messenger, Jimmy - Aoife Dutton

Queen Victoria, American Reporter, Plus others - Roberta Hines

King Edward, Christy, RIC Man, Barman - John O’Toole

Tom Rawe, RIC Man - Vincent Mulready

King George, Mick, Sergeant, Agustine Birrell - Conrad Brunstrom

Chairman, J. B. O’Dougherty, Plus others - John McCormack

Sixpence Singers - Grace Desmond, Maria Moore

No Pastry for the King

Maynooth 850 celebrations 2026

14th - 16th October

An Nuadha Players, in collaboration with Maynooth 850 Local History Group, St Mary’s Brass and Reed Band, and Castle Keep Art group, are delighted to announce our production of No Pastry for the King, written by Declan O’Connor and directed by John Bean.

The play was previously performed by An Nuadha Players in 2008 and we are delighted to bring it back to the stage as part of the Maynooth 850 celebrations.

The Cast of No Pastry for the King

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