'The Amharclann is a place that I have a lot of memories from'

Brídín Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh says her return to the stage in Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair will be the most ‘special show’ in her tour.

Brídín is coming home with the production of Dathanna Geala Amháin, which translates to Bright Colours Only. 

This homecoming performance, which takes place at 8pm on Wednesday, May 14, is part of a nationwide tour of the newly translated Irish version of Pauline Goldsmith’s acclaimed Irish Wake Show.  

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Brídín stars in this wickedly funny one-woman show that has been described as an ‘interactive show’. 

“From the minute you walk into the Amharclann, it is like you are attending a wake house,” Brídín tells DonegalLive.  “When you enter, there will be tea, sandwiches and even drops of whiskey given out, and I will also be having the craic with the audience.” 

A wide range of characters will be introduced throughout the play, from a bean an tí and a sassy undertaker, to a cranky granny- people who we may recognise in our own lives! 

The show’s tour kicked off at An Taibhdhearc, Co Galway, where Brídín performed eight nights.  The creator of the original English language version of the show, Pauline Goldsmith, was in attendance for the first two nights.  

“It was quite surreal getting to perform in front of her, because it is her story,” Brídín adds. 

 Brídín, who is best known for her role as Katy Daly on Ros na Rún from 2010 to 2020, started her acting career with Aisteoirí Ghaoth Dobhair and is excited to return to perform in front of her local community.  

“The Amharclann is a place that I have a lot of memories from," Brídín says. 

“It will be the most special show for me because I am doing it in front of my community at home. That is where I started off and where my family and friends first saw me on the stage, so I am looking forward to performing here again.” 

During her time as a student at Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, she took part in the annual Féile Scoil Dramaíochta- an Irish Language play competition at school-level. It was through this that she met the late Tomás ‘Tom an Bhungaló’ Mac Giolla Bhríde, who directed the plays and inspired her to pursue a career in acting.  

After finishing school, she went on to study at NUI Galway and graduated with a degree in Theatre and Performance with Arts. She went on to land her iconic role in  Ros na Rún. In 2020, Brídín stepped away from her role in front of the cameras on the popular Irish-language soap drama and still continues to write scripts for the show. 

Since July 2024, she is also a development executive for Danú Media, a film and TV production company based in An Spiddéal, Co Galway. 

She has starred in a range of recent TV and film projects such as An Bhfuil a Fhios Agat (2021), The Queen VS Patrick O Donnell (2022) and Díolta Faoina Luach (2023).