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Further to the print media below, Bondi also featured on the following:
Radio shows:
The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show - Today FM
The Gareth O'Callaghan Breakfast Show - Galway Bay FM
The Sunday Grill with Mary O'Neill - Beat FM (Waterford/Kilkenny)
The David Cawley Breakfast Show - MidWest Radio
Websites:
YouTube: Click here
Game Ball Episode 22: Click here
Ireland.com "Video of the Week": Click here
An Fear Rua: Link 1 & Link 2
Hogan Stand: Click here
Sunday Tribune: Click here
KilkennyCats.com: Click here
YourYarns.com: Click here
"new and innovative" - Dermot Bolger, The Irish Times
"by turns comic and deeply affecting" - The Kerryman
"One hurl of a play" - The Irish Sun
"a must- see" - Kilkenny Advertiser
"a splendid new play" - The Mayo News
"you have got to see Bondi Beach Boy Blue" - Tipperary Voice
"hugely enjoyable, thought- provoking, interesting, realistic, touching and very, very real" - Brian Cody
"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant" - Eddie Keher
"depicts the profound importance and influence that Gaelic games can have on the lives of young people." - Nickey Brennan, GAA President
"The direct writing style incorporated reveals a refreshing willingness to experiment. … this style brings a fresh and vibrant dynamism to the piece, and includes the audience, the heart of theatre into proceedings. The writer clearly has a vision." - David Lane, soho theatre, London
Bondi Beach Boy Blue is "warm, alive, buzzing. Stuffed with convincing details and authenticity, it unfolds merrily with generous helpings of good humour and charm. I wanted to know what would happen next." - William Kerley, the bush theatre, London
"There is a beautiful fluid writing style and ambitious theatricality about Bondi Beach Boy Blue. The world is credible and authentic and the style of story telling captures different moods very effectively. It’s pacy, vibrant and rhythmic." - Pippa Ellis, hampstead theatre, London
'Beach Boy' play gets good vibrations
The Kerryman, Wednesday, June 03, 2009
KILLARNEY native Donal Courtney's directorial skills enjoyed a rapturous response in Listowel on Friday with the Writers' Week evening theatre production of Bondi Beach Boy Blue in St John's.
What's a Kerry chap doing, directing a play with hurling as a central theme? Exactly what he knows best it would appear. Already a favourite of Kilkenny manager Brian Cody, Bondi Beach Boy Blue — written by upcoming playwright Benny McDonnell — received an equally favourable response on its first showings in Dublin and Kilkenny late last year.
It might be hurling, but it's still a Gaelic game and the Kerry audience were able to relate to every minute of it.
Telling the story of hurling's next big star Declan who is forced to pack in the game at a high level due to injury before his flight to Australia on the backpacker trail, it was by turns comic and deeply affecting.
No little of it thanks to the confident direction of Ardshanavooley's Donal Courtney. A past-pupil of the Sem and a graduate of the Gaiety School of Acting in 1991, Courtney has worked as an actor and director across Ireland, Europe and Australia. Most recently he appeared on our screens in the smash-hit period piece The Tudors and directed Dermot Bolger's In High Germany to no little acclaim at Bewley's Café Theatre.
Only a few miles from home, Donal was delighted to take part in Writers' Week 2009, his work complementing the rich variety of art forms enjoyed by all over the weekend.
Hurling play comes recommended by GAA greats
Galway Advertiser, May 28, 2009
By Kernan Andrews
NO LESS a hurler than Eddie Keher has hailed Bondi Beach Boy Blue, by NUI Galway graduate Benny McDonnell, as “really capturing the hurling scene and ethos”.
It’s not only six time All-Ireland winner and 1969 winning captain Keher who has been singing the play’s praises. Brian Cody, the Kilkenny senior hurling team manager said the show is “hugely enjoyable, thought provoking, interesting, touching, and very, very real.”
Bondi Beach Boy Blue, about an injured hurler’s quest to rediscover a way back into sport, will be performed in the Town Hall Studio from Tuesday June 2 to Saturday 6.
Declan is set to become a Kilkenny hurling great but injury cuts his career short. Disillusioned, he needs a change of scene and a new direction in life. Armed with his passport Declan and friend Gary head for Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.
In a land of sun, fun, and a thousand friendly faces, 10,000 miles from home, with the Olympics coming, it is an exciting time. Declan thinks that maybe he can start again, that a sporting life is not a fantasy, but doubts assail him - what if this ends in failure as well?
Killarney’s Donal plans big clash of the ash
The Kingdom, Thursday, May 28, 2009
A KILLARNEY man is poised to score a big win with theatergoers this week as he directs a hurling-theme play at Listowel Writers’ Week.
Donal Courtney will direct the OCI Productions presentation of Bondi Beach Boy Blue from the pen of emerging Irish playwright, Benny McDonnell.
Fans can catch the play in St John’s Theatre, Listowel, this Friday night, May 29, as part of the Writers’ Week festival.
Donal, originally from Ardshanavooley in Killarney, graduated from the Gaiety School of Acting in 1991 and has since worked as an actor and director throughout Ireland, Europe and Australia.
Directing credits include The Importance of Being Earnest (Siamsa Tire), Antigone (European Tour), Philadelphia, here I come! (Everyman Palace), Bear Hug (Bewley's Cafe Theatre), and Barefoot in the Park (Andrews Lane).
Most recently he directed and performed Dermot Bolger's In High Germany at Bewley's Cafe Theatre and appeared in The Tudors.
Donal has written three plays - Election Night, Closing Time and Rumplestilt-skin (for children).
Bondi Beach Boy Blue
Galway Independent, Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Hailed as "Hugely enjoyable, thought- provoking, interesting, realistic, touching and very, very real" by none other than Kilkenny senior hurling manager Brian Cody, OCI Productions present the unique hurling play; Bondi Beach Boy Blue by emerging Irish playwright, Benny McDonnell at the Town Hall Studio from Tuesday 2 - Saturday 6 June.
Bondi is the story of Declan, a talented young hurler growing up in rural Kilkenny; poised to become another hurling great until his potential is cut short. Leaving his girlfriend Lisa and an indifferent relationship with his father behind and forced to forsake the game he loves, Declan bolts to Australia accompanied by his best friend Gary on the life-altering trip ‘down under.’
The play is the story of the problems Declan ran away from in Ireland and what he ran into in Australia and is the story of a small town hero being forced from his comfort zone and having to find a place in the big bad world.
Praised as “pacy, vibrant and rhythmic" by Pippa Ellis at London’s Hampstead Theatre, OCI Productions’ Bondi Beach Boy Blue runs at the Town Hall Studio from Tuesday 2 - Saturday 6June at 8.30pm nightly. Tickets €15/€12 are available for booking now art the Town Hall box office 091 569777 or from www.tht.ie.
Mayo playwright takes Dublin theatre world by storm with Bondi hit
Connaught Telegraph, October 21, 2008
Ballinrobe playwright Benny McDonnell has this week taken the Dublin theatre world by storm with the opening to a full house and standing ovation of, his play: - Bondi Beach Boy Blue
Directed by Donal Courtney, Bondi opened at Smock Alley Theatre, Temple Bar, Dublin on Wednesday last October 8th with a gala Opening Night attended by Mayo Senior Football Manager, John O’Mahony TD and was well supported by members of Muintir Maigh Eo, Ath Claith and members of the sporting, media, political and artistic worlds.
Benny is a past pupil of Ballinrobe Community School and graduated from University College Galway with a B.A. Degree (English and Economics) and Masters Degree in Economics. In 1999 he made his writing and directorial debut with a production of Good Feathers - the first play in the newly opened on- campus theatre in the then re-christened NUI, Galway. In 2003, Benny became the first writer featured in the Abbey Theatre’s “Play Talk” showcase of emerging Irish writers and later that year his work also featured at Contact Theatre’s (Manchester) “Flip the Script” series - a BBC supported program for new writing.
Bondi is a unique play with the game of hurling as its central theme and runs in Dublin until October 11th. It will transfer to Langton’s House Hotel, Kilkenny for a one-off performance to coincide with the celebrations for Kilkenny’s 31st All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship title before touring to Cuba in Galway for 22nd and 23rd October before making its finale performance at Benny’s alma mater, Ballinrobe Community School on October 24th.
The productionhas already received lavish praise from members of the GAA fraternity including Deputy John O’Mahony, Kilkenny hurling legends Brian Cody (6 time All- Ireland Hurling winning manager, All- Ireland Minor & Senior winning Captain) and Eddie Keher (6 time All- Ireland Hurling Championship winner - Captain in 1969), GAA President Nicky Brennan and Jimmy Deenihan TD (5 time All Ireland Football Championship winner and Captain in 1981).
The cast comprises Tom Casey (How Low Can You Go Reality Check 08), Sonia Gamble (Arabian Night, Company X, Dublin Fringe Festival), Michael Wallace & Daryll White (both recently appeared at The Abbey in An Ideal Husband).
The Director, Donal Courtney most recently directed and starred in Bewley’s Café Theatre in Dermot Bolger’s In High Germany.
Full details of the Ballinrobe Community School performance of Bondi Beach Boy Blue are available from www.ociproductions.com.
Ballinrobe playwright returns with Bondi Beach Boy Blue
The Mayo News, October 22, 2008
The Kilkenny hurling manager Brian Cody is well- known for giving very little away. That was until he went to see Bondi Beach Boy Blue, a play written and produced by Ballinrobe native Benny McDonnell, last year.
"Hugely enjoyable, thought provoking, interesting, realistic, touching and very, very real," gushed the usually very reserved Cody afterwards. This was urely the greatest endorsement of a play about life, love and hurling that anyone could wish for.
South Mayo will get a chance to see what all the fuss is about on Friday evening next, Octobe 24, when McDonnell brings his smash- hit play to Ballinrobe Community School. It will be the second time that the playwright brings his show back to his alma mater, with a host of newspapers, magazines and radio shows singing its praises recently.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue opened to full houses in Dublin earlier this month and was staged in Langton's in Kilkenny last weekend to coincide with the celebrations of the county's 31st All- Ireland success.
The witty, clever play tells the story of Declan, a talented young hurler growing up in rural Kilkenny who is poised to become another hurling great until his potential is cut short.
Forced to forsake the game he loves, Declan bolts to Australia accompanied by his best friend Gary. He leaves his girlfriend, Lisa and an indifferent relationship with his father behind to embark on the life- altering trip 'down under.'
In a land of sun, fun and a thousand friendly faces, ten thousand miles from home, with the Olympics coming, it's an exciting time. It's a chance to start again. Can Declan take it? Or is any attempt at escape doomed to failure?
Benny McDonnell's play is the story of the set of problems that Declan ran away from in Ireland and what he ran into in Australia.
The production has already received lavish praise from members of the GAA fraternity, including Mayo manager John O'Mahoney, Kilkenny hurling legend Eddie Keher, GAA President Nicky Brennan and former Kerry footballer, Jimmy Deenihan, TD.
The cast comprises Tom Casey (How Low Can You Go Reality Check 08), Sonia Gamble (Arabian Night, Company X, Dublin Fringe Festival), Michael Wallace & Daryll Whyte who were both recently on stage in An Ideal Husband at The Abbey.
The show will feature music from The Guggenheim Grotto, a popular band featuring another Ballinrobe man, singer and songwriter Kevin May. The Guggenheim Grotto's second album, Happy the Man was released last week in the US and went straight to No 1 on the iTunes Folk album download charts there.
All proceeds from the performance will be in aid of the school's Sports Facilities Fund, and tickets are available on the door. The curtain goes up at 8pm. Full details of the Ballinrobe Community School performance of Bondi Beach Boy Blue are available from www.ociproductions.com
Bondi beach blues in Cuba*
Galway Independent, October 21, 2008
The unique hurling play, Bondi Beach Boy Blue by emerging Irish playwright, Benny McDonnell comes to Cuba Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 October.
Bondi tells the story of Declan, a talented young hurler growing up in rural Kilkenny, poised to become and hurling great until his potential is cut short.
Forced to forsake the game that he loves, Declan bolts to Australia accompanied by his best friend Gary. He leaves his girlfriend Lisa, and an indifferent relationship with his father behind, to embark on the life- altering trip 'down under.'
The play is the story of the set of problems Declan ran away from in Ireland and what he runs into in Australia. It's the story of a small town hero being forced from his comfort zone and having to find a place on a larger stage.
Bondi is a unique play with the game of Hurling as a central theme. It has already received lavish praise from Kilkenny hurling legends Brian Cody (six time All- Ireland Hurling winning manager, All- Ireland Minor and Senior winning Captain) and Eddie Keher (six time All- Ireland Hurling Championship winner - captain in 1969) as well as GAA President Nicky Brennan.
Deenihan predicts All Ireland success for Kerry Director's GAA play
North Kerry TD, Jimmy Deenihan has joined in the many plaudits for Killarney director Donal Courtney who this week has taken the Dublin theatre world by storm with the opening to a full house and standing ovation of the play: - Bondi Beach Boy Blue.
Written by Mayo Playwright, Benny McDonnell (himself having Kerry connections being a nephew of Cathal Walsh of Killarney and Dingle/Ring of Kerry cycle fame) , Bondi opened at Smock Alley Theatre, Temple Bar, Dublin on Wednesday last - October 8th with a gala Opening Night attended by North Kerry TD, Jimmy Deenihan and was well supported by Kerry exiles in Dublin and by members of the sporting, media, political and artistic worlds.
Donal a native of Ardshanavooley is a past pupil of St Brendan’s Killarney and graduated from the Gaiety School of Acting in 1991 and has since worked as an actor and director throughout Ireland, Europe and Australia. Directing credits include: The Importance of Being Earnest (Siamsa Tire), Antigone (European Tour), Philadelphia, here I come! (Everyman Palace), Bear Hug (Bewley's Cafe Theatre), Barefoot in the Park (Andrews Lane). Most recently he directed and performed Dermot Bolger's In High Germany at Bewley's Cafe Theatre and appeared in The Tudors. Donal has written three plays - Election Night, Closing Time and Rumplestiltskin (for children) and most recently directed and starred in Bewley’s Café Theatre in Dermot Bolger’s In High Germany.
Bondi is a unique play with the game of hurling as its central theme, it’s sell-out run in Dublin ends on October 11th. It will transfer to Langton House Hotel, Kilkenny for a one-off performance to coincide with the celebrations for Kilkenny’s 31st All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship title before touring to Cuba in Galway for 22nd and 23rd October before making its finale performance at writer Benny McDonnell’s alma mater, Ballinrobe Community School on October 24th.
The production has already received lavish praise from members of the GAA fraternity including Deputy Deenihan, Kilkenny hurling legends Brian Cody (6 time All- Ireland Hurling winning manager, All- Ireland Minor & Senior winning Captain) and Eddie Keher (6 time All- Ireland Hurling Championship winner - Captain in 1969), GAA President Nicky Brennan and John O’Mahony TD (Mayo Senior Football Manager, and 2 time All Ireland Senior Football winning manager).
The cast comprises Tom Casey (How Low Can You Go Reality Check 08), Sonia Gamble (Arabian Night, Company X, Dublin Fringe Festival), Michael Wallace & Daryll Whyte (both recently appeared at The Abbey in An Ideal Husband).
OCI Productions presents ... Bondi Beach Boy Blue
Newsletter: Parish of Killenaule, Moyglass, Ballynonty and Ballinure, October 18/19, 2008
To a packed hall on Thursday evening last the pupils of Scoil Ruain enjoyed the presentation. It is indebted to the good purpose and vision of Brian Friel's Philadelphia, Here I Come a play which similarly deals with conflict between reality nad fantasy in the life of a young Irishman in a troubled relationship with his father who seeks a new start abroad. Over 60 students attended the presentation in St Mary's Hall Thursday last.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue returns for Kilkenny performance
Kilkenny Advertiser, October 16, 2008.
Mayo playwright Benny McDonnell’s popular production about a hurling-mad Kilkenny youth Down Under is back on the road for a nationwide tour and returns to Kilkenny this weekend in time to celebrate the county’s recent All-Ireland triumphs.
In Bondi Beach Boy Blue young Kilkenny hurling prodigy, Declan escapes the disappointment of injury and embarks on a life-altering adventure in Australia, leaving behind his girlfriend and an indifferent relationship with his father.
Having grown up in rural Kilkenny, the play tells the tale of Declan and best friend Gary’s adventures and tribulations as they are forced out of the comfort zone of small town living and forced to find a place on a grander stage.
The theme of hurling runs deep throughout the course of the play and the production has already won lavish praise from the GAA fraternity, with Kilkenny legends Brian Cody and Eddie Keher as well as GAA President Nicky Brennan praising its portrayal of the influence of Gaelic games on the lives of young people.
The play also features a specially recorded title song from popular band Guggenheim Grotto, who have a close link with Kilkenny and are regular performers in the city. The title of the play was influenced by the Dublin-based band’s song, Portmarnock Beach Boy Blue.
The cast for the production includes Tom Casey (Father/Uncle Donie), Sonia Gamble (Lisa/Emma), Michael Wallace (Gary) and Darryl White (Declan). The play is directed by Donal Courtney and produced by Declan Furlong and writer Benny McDonnell.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue plays for one night only in Langton’s House Hotel, Kilkenny on Saturday, October 18.
Hurling play to be staged in Langton's
Kilkenny People, October 10, 2008
THE play Bondi Beach Boy Blue which took to the stage in Kilkenny last year, is returning to the marble city with a performance in Langton's on October 18.
The play by emerging Irish playwright, Benny McDonnell is coming to the John Street venue for a one-off performance to coincide with the celebrations for Kilkenny’s 31st All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship title before touring to provincial venues.
Bondi is Declan’s story – a talented young hurler growing up in rural Kilkenny, poised to become another hurling great until his potential is cut short. Forced to forsake the game he loves, Declan bolts to Australia accompanied by his best friend Gary. He leaves his girlfriend Lisa and an indifferent relationship with his father behind, to embark on the life- altering trip ‘down under.’
The play is the story of the set of problems he ran away from in Ireland and what he ran into in Australia. It is the story of a small town hero being forced from his comfort zone and having to find a place on a larger stage.
Bondi is a unique play with the game of hurling as its central theme, it has already received lavish praise from Kilkenny hurling legends Brian Cody and Eddie Keher as well as from GAA President Nickey Brennan.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue - There's more to life than hurling so lang as its hurling!
Hurling World, October/November, 2008
Last September, Brian Cody, Eddie Keher and their wives turned up in Cleere's Theatre in Kilkenny to see a play based on a young hurler's trials and tribulations.
The two legends had a vague notion that the play was centred on a brilliant local hurler who stood on the cusp of making it big, but they knew little about what lay in store.
The play's writer, Benny McDonnell, greeted them before the curtain opened and readily admits that the men didn't know what to expect. "They were just there out of courtesy," he says. "They probably didn't even know why they were there either," he smiles. "At the start it was pretty formal and all that, but after they saw the show they were delighted and stayed with us until we were all kicked out of Cleere's theatre at 1am."
That two down to earth men like Cody and Keher enjoyed this show is no surprise. The drama, entitled Bondi Beach Boy Blue surrounds a gifted young hurler called Declan who is in the prime of his life and ready to make the step- up to senior intercounty level. His father was an excellent hurler too, played big time hurling for the county as well but then shipped a heavy knock against Tipperary and it ended his career.
The father doesn't work anymore but has taken a more than vested interest in his son's career and frequently drives him to training and matches. It's not the healthiest of situations though and they don't have an especially great relationship. Dad is forever preaching the virtues of having something else to fall back on rather than hurling but Declan ain't listening. This is his town and right now he's the star of the show. The only star. Things just fall into place for him around here.
After playing in an All- Ireland Colleges semi- final however he finally realises what his Dad was saying. But it's too late. Declan smashes his knee and everything he knows is taken from him in an instant. The doctors tell him his hurling career is finished and he simply can't get over it. After months of wallowing in self- pity his girlfriend dumps him which only adds to the misery. Suddenly for the first time in his life, home feels claustrophobic. Along with his best friend Gary he soon gets sick of working in a local factory and the two pals decide to make a break for Australia where their lives veer up and down.
"His life is basically over and he gets tired of labouring about in Kilkenny," McDonnell states. "One minute he had it all and the next it's taken away from him. He arrives in Australia green and raw but they live it up for awhile and everything is great. It's not long before things get complicated, however. They forge some plans: some work and some don't."
It's there we will leave the story, you'll just have to see it yourself to see how the plot unfolds and concludes.
Suffice to say that it delves delicately into the set of problems that Declan ran away from in Ireland and reveals what he ran into in Australia. Just because the small town hero was forced from his comfort zone didn't mean that his problems ended there. Within a short time he had to deal with his issues on a larger and much more public scale.
Declan's story is told in fantastic fashion by McDonnell who hails from Ballinrobe where Gaelic football is the number one love. "It was a hard sell alright, trying to get Brian Cody to see the play," he jokes. "A Mayo man writing about hurling, people were not so sure! But it's a story that could be told in any town or village around Ireland," he continues. "In some places GAA keeps the village ticking over but the pressures of being a big fish in a small pond can get to people too. The Kilkenny angle came from when I wrote the play back in 2001. I wrote it with a mate of mine from Kilkenny in mind to play the lead. That's the connection."
The production is fast, funny and humourous and like all the good productions it ends with a dark finale that leaves the audience hungry for more. "I had two choices," Benny continues, "I could have spoon- fed the audience or get them to make up their own minds. People will see the play and have their own opinions."
It's always intriguing to see a good Irish play but this one is unique because it constantly refers to hurling throughout and that's right down our alley. It's rare enough that hurling gets profiled dramatically, either on the big stage or the TV and movie screens.
One of the most famous exceptions was the comic classic, Rooney which told the story of James Ignatius Rooney, a dustman and hurler, who moved into new digs in Dublin. The domestic squabbles, the misunderstandings and the hilarious scenes with Rooney and his fellow dustmen were all played out against the backdrop of the 1957 All- Ireland which features "Dublin" playing in black and amber. In the movie John Gregson played the part of Rooney and actually stepped into the real- life pre- match parade, tucked in behind Kilkenny's Sean Clohessy, who was playing left corner- forward.
So it's refreshing to see hurling on the boards now. It's also a realistic portrayal of the hold that the club, county and GAA in general has on Irish people all over the world. In one act of Bondi, Declan and Gary are discussing someone who got away and the phrase, "there's plenty more ash on the sideline" is coined to sumarise the situation perfectly. These lads are defined by hurling speak and terminology.
You should make every effort to see it as it comes your way. It opens at Smock Alley Theatre, Temple Bar, Dublin on October 8th and runs there until October 11th. After that it will transfer to Langton House Hotel, Kilkenny for a one- off performance to coincide with the celebrations for Kilkenny's 31st All- Ireland Senior Hurling Championship title on the 18th of October. Then it's Cuba, Galway on the 22nd and 23rd and it reaches Ballinrobe Community School on October 24th.
"Brian just remarked after seeing it the first time how a fella's career could fall apart so easily and so simply," McDonnell adds. "And it's true: one minute you have a huge sporting career ahead of you and the next it's all over. I suppose he has had huge amounts of success but even in Kilkenny there are probably a couple of guys who would have made it big had life dealt them a different hand."
When the production leaves Kilkenny the tour bus moves to Galway before finishing the journey in McDonnell's native Mayo. Bondi has received lavish praise from GAA President Nickey Brennan who described the play as "depicting the profound importance and influence that Gaelic Games can have on the lives of young people."
The show is directed by Donal Courtney of the Gaiety School of Acting and the cast comprises Tom Casey (one of the members of RTE's How Low Can You Go TV series), Sonia Gamble, Michael Wallace and Daryll Whyte.
Tickets are available from 0818 205 205, www.ctb.ie and Central Ticket Bureau, Liberty Hall, 33 Eden Quay, Dublin 1.
Theatre: Lovely hurling: Bondi Beach Boy Blue
Hot Press, October 8, 2008
Those of us who secretly enjoyed Kilkenny's domination of hurling this summer (choke, gag, thud - HP Cork contingent) will be drawn like moths to light by Bondi Beach Boy Blue, a play by Benny McDonnell, which re- opens this October. Taking the national game as its central theme, the story follows Declan, a talented young hurler growing up in rural Kilkenny and poised to become another legend of the sport until his potential is cut short. Forced to forsake the game he loves, he and his best friend Gary bolt for Australia. Bondi Beach Boy Blue has already been widely critically acclaimed by journalists and hurling fans alike and it features a specially recorded song from The Guggenheim Grotto. It previews at Smock Alley Theatre in Temple Bar on October 6 and 7 and will remain there until October 11. It will also be showing in Kilkenny, Galway and Ballinrobe.
Hurling on stage
The Star, September 30, 2008
LEGENDARY Kilkenny hurling manager Brian Cody has heaped praise on a play about a promising young Kilkenny hurler who flees to Australia when the pressure of the game becomes too great.
But Cody and Cats fans will be hoping playwright Benny McDonnell's Bondi Beach Boy Blue will not prove true to life as many Kilkenny hurlers are lured to Oz for "gap years".
Hurling praise at GAA Production
Irish Daily Mirror, September 30, 2008
A PLAY about a promising young hurler emigrating to Oz has GAA fans praying life won't imitate art.
Kilkenny coach Brian Cody called Bondi Beach Boy Blue "hugely enjoyable".
But said he was hopeful the Cats would not have the same problem when they go for a fourth consecutive All- Ireland title next year.
Play Acting
Sunday Independent, September 21, 2008
A PLAY telling the story of a talented young hurler forced to leave Kilkenny will preview in Dublin next month.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue opens at Smock Alley theatre in Temple Bar, Dublin on October 6, running until October 11 and then touring to selected venues around the country.
Benny McDonnell's show centres on Declan, a telented young hurler growing up in rural Kilkenny, poised to become another hurling great until he is forced to forsake the game he loves. He bolts to Australia accompanied by his girlfriend Lisa and an indifferent relationship with his father behind. The play tells of the problems he left in Ireland and faced in Australia; a small town hero being forced to find a place on a larger stage.
The play has already received lavish praise from Brian Cody and Eddie Keher, but we wonder about one thing. Never mind getting past customs, how did Declan get past Cody when he broke for the Kilkenny border?
‘Beach Boy’ Benny pens theatrical masterpiece
Connaught Telegraph, Wednesday 17th October, 2007
A Ballinrobe man has catapulted himself into the upper echelons of the Irish theatrical world after a play he wrote just completed touring the country to rave reviews from audiences and the press alike.
Brendan (Benny) McDonnell from Ballinrobe, penned the original play Bondi Beach Boy Blue which tells the tale of Declan - poised to become a hurling great until his potential is cut short.
He decides to forsake the game he loves and travel to Australia in the company of his best friend Gary.
He leaves his girlfriend Lisa behind, as well as an indifferent relationship with his father, to embark on a life- altering trip ‘down under.’
The play is the story of the set of problems he ran away from in Ireland and what he ran into in Australia. It is the story of a small town hero being forced from his comfort zone and having to find a place on a larger stage.
The play has already received praise from GAA President Nickey Brennan who endorsed the production by writing the foreword for the play’s theatre booklet. The head of the GAA announced himself delighted with the depiction of Gaelic games as having a profound impact on the lives of young people and was delighted that Benny’s play was focusing on this.
The star studded cast of the new production included Eamonn Draper of Fair City, Glenroe and TG4’s new show - The Running Mate; Saileog O’Halloran, Pat McEneaney and Conor Ryan who is best known for his involvement in the play Alone it Stands. Bondi was directed by Conor Maguire, a Clareman who was involved with Merlin Productions in Castlebar and ATTIC theatre in Sligo. Bondi Beach Boy Blue officially opened in Kilkenny on September 10 and after a six-night run began a nationwide tour to Tipperary, Cork, Kerry, Clare and Galway before arriving in Benny’s old alma mater of Ballinrobe Community School for two shows.
Benny, who hails from the village of Cavan just outside ‘the Robe’, featured in the Abbey’s ‘Play Talk’ for emerging writers while Bondi Beach Boy Blue was given a public reading by Fishamble Theatre in Dublin.
It’s not only six time All- Ireland winner and 1969 Kilkenny Hurling winning captain Eddie Keher who has been singing the play’s praises. Brian Cody the Kilkenny senior hurling team manager, said the show was "hugely enjoyable, thought provoking, interesting, touching and very, very real."
In addition to such glowing tributes, the newspapers have not been slow to pick up on the Ballinrobe man’s production with The Sun newspaper calling it "One hurl of a play." The local newspapers around the country have been equally appreciative with The Tipperary Voice saying "you have got to see Bondi Beach Boy Blue" while The Kilkenny Advertiser said "a splendid new play - a must see for any hurling fan."
McDonnell, now living in Dublin, works as a Management Information Specialist in Merchant Services with AIB intends not to rest on his laurels.
He has already penned three further plays and if Bondi Beach Boy Blue is anything to go by , this Ballinrobe man’s name will be up in lights again before too long.
Good week for …
Connaught Telegraph, Wednesday 17th October, 2007
Ballinrobe native Brendan (Benny) McDonnell whose hit play Bondi Beach Boy Blue has just completed touring the country to rave reviews from both the press and audiences.
Play that explores our passion for hurling The Connaught/City Tribune, October 5th, 2007
A play which explores Irish people’s passion for hurling is set to open at the Town Hall Studio on Monday next October 1st.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue is an original play by Benny McDonnell from Ballinrobe, and tells the story of Declan, a talented young hurler growing up in rural Kilkenny with a bright future ahead of him in the national game.
However, Declan is disillusioned with life at home and seeks adventure ‘Down Under’.
Bondi is the story of a small town hero being forced from his comfort zone and having to find his place on a larger stage.
McDonnell featured in The National (The Abbey) Theatre’s first Play Talk series to develop emerging Irish writers in 2003 and Bondi was given a public reading by Fishamble theatre at The Project Arts Centre, Dublin in 2004.
Bondi is directed by Connor Maguire (Merlin Productions in Castlebar and ATTIC Theatre, Sligo).
The cast consists of Eamonn Draper (Fair City, Glenroe), Saileog O’Halloran (Galway Youth Theatre), Pat McEneaney (Autobahn for Galway Arts Festival ’07) and Conor Ryan (Alone It Stands).
GAA President Nickey Brennan, as well as Kilkenny manager Brian Cody and former hurling great Eddie Keher are among those who have praised this play.
Nickey Brennan especially praised "the manner in which it depicts the profound importance and influence that Gaelic games, and the game of hurling in particular, can have on the lives of young people."
From Ballinasloe to Bondi
Tuam Herald, Thursday 4th october, 2007
A PLAY written by Ballinrobe’s Benny McDonnell continues its run in Galway’s Town Hall Theatre this week.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue is the story of a talented young hurler growing up in rural Kilkenny and his adventurous trip ‘down under’.
The play is directed by Connor Maguire and the cast includes Eamon Draper who has appeared on Fair City and Glenroe, Saileog O’Halloran from Galway Youth Theatre, Pat McEneaney and Conor Ryan.
Armed with passport and not much else, accompanied by his best friend Gary, Declan heads for Bondi. Disillusioned with life at home, he is seeking pastures new. The play tells Declan’s story - of his relationships with his father, his uncle and his best friend Gary. It unravels the reasons for Declan’s fleeing to Australia and the problems he left behind.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue runs in Galway until Saturday, October 6.
Hurling play comes recommended by Kilkenny legends Galway First, Monday 1st October, 2007
No less a hurler than the legendary Eddie Keher has hailed Bondi Beach Boy Blue by NUI, Galway graduate Benny McDonnell, as "really capturing the hurling scene and ethos."
It’s not only six time All-Ireland winner and 1969 winning captain Keher who has been singing the play’s praises. Brian Cody, the Kilkenny senior hurling team manager said the show is "hugely enjoyable, thought provoking, interesting, touching and very, very real." GAA President Nickey Brennan believes it "depicts the profound importance and influence that Gaelic games can have on the lives of young people."
Bondi Beach Boy Blue, about an injured hurler’s quest to rediscover a way back into sport, will be performed in the Town Hall Studio from Tuesday October 2 to Saturday 6.
Declan is set to become a Kilkenny hurling great but sadly injury cuts his career short. Disillusioned with life at home, he needs a change of scene and a new direction in life. Armed with his passport Declan and friend Gary head for Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.
In a land of sun, fun, and a thousand friendly faces, 10,000 miles from home, with the Olympics coming, it is an exciting time. Declan thinks that maybe he can start again, that a sporting life is not a fantasy, but doubts assail him - what if this ends in failure as well?
For tickets contact the Town Hall on 091 – 569777.
Bondi Beach Boy grabs hurley and hits the stage
Tipperary Voice, Friday 28th September, 2007
If the story of throwing caution to the wind, upping sticks and moving country appeals to you, you have got to see Bondi Beach Boy Blue.
It is presented by OCI Productions. OCI was formed in 2006 by Benny McDonnell and Declan Furlong who met at UCG. This is their debut show.
The story centres on Declan, who is set to become another Kilkenny hurling great until fate intervenes. Armed with passport and not much else, accompanied by best friend Gary, Declann bolts for Ireland’s antipodean outpost, Bondi.
Disillusioned with life at home, he is seeking pastures new. In a land of sun, fun and a thousand friendly faces, ten thousand miles from home, with the Olympics coming, it's an exciting time. It’s a chance to start again. Bondi Beach Boy Blue is Declan’s story.
The story of his relationship with his father, Gary- his best mate, his uncle Donie and the women in his life- his mother, Lisa and Emma.
The story of the set of problems he ran away from in Ireland and what he ran into in Australia. It is a case of a small town hero being forced from his comfort zone and having to find his place on a larger stage.
The play is at 8pm tonight (Tuesday). For tickets and further info call the Source Arts Centre on (0504) 90204 or visit www.thesourceartscentre.ie
From Kilkenny to Bondi to Galway!
Galway Independent, Wednesday 26th September, 2007
OCI Productions Limited is bringing Bondi Beach Boy Blue, the story of a talented young Kilkenny hurler and his adventurous trip down under, to Galway in October.
The original story by Benny McDonnell has been described by Nickey Brennan, GAA President, as "depicting the profound importance and influence that Gaelic games, and the game of hurling in particular, can have on the lives of young people."
McDonnell featured in the National Theatre’s first Play Talk in 2003 series to develop emerging Irish writers and Bondi was given a public reading by Fishamble Theatre in the Project Arts Centre in Dublin in 2004.
Directed by Connor Maguire, Bondi features Eamonn Draper from Fair City and Glenroe fame, Saileog O’Halloran, Pat McEneaney and Conor Ryan.
Armed with passport and not much else, and accompanied by his best friend Gary, Declan bolts for Ireland’s antipodean outpost: Bondi.
Disillusioned with life at home, he is seeking pastures new. In a land of sun, fun and a thousand friendly faces, ten thousand miles from home, with the Olympics coming, it's an exciting time. It’s a chance to start again. Can Declan take it? Or is any attempt at escape doomed to failure?
This is Declan’s story. The story of his relationship with his father, Gary- his best mate, his uncle Donie and the women in his life- his mother, Lisa and Emma. The story of the set of problems he ran away from in Ireland and what he ran into in Australia.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue will run in the Town Hall Studio from
Monday 1 October to Saturday 6 October at 8pm. Tickets,
€12/€10, are available from Town Hall Theatre on 091 – 569777.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue (OCI Productions)
By Charlie McBride
Galway Advertiser, Thursday 11th October, 2007
Bondi Beach Boy Blue is the debut professional play by NUI, Galway graduate Benny McDonnell and centres on Declan, a Kilkenny hurling prodigy whose promising career is cut short by injury.
Declan’s life enters a phase of aimless drift, characterised by dead- end factory work, booze-ups with mates and nagging by his vexed girlfriend. Eventually she walks out and he emigrates to Australia with his best friend Gary looking for a fresh start.
Here the duo enter a local fun run and though they finish well down the field, as a joke they phone home and claim to have been among the front runners.
Furthermore they declare that they were spotted by an Irish Olympic talent scout and might be drafted into the Irish team for the upcoming Sydney Olympics. However their booze-inspired prank takes on a hideous life of its own when the hometown paper prints it up as fact and Declan suddenly has to confront his feckless ways.
McDonnell’s script is perhaps overly episodic in structure and has a surfeit of incidental detail but his characters, and their plights are well drawn. The play is also well served by a strong production with skilled, emotionally involving performances from the cast of four, directed by Connor Maguire.
Conor Ryan excels throughout as Declan and there is a good rapport between him and Patrick McEneaney as his amigo Gary. Sailleog O’Halloran ably handles the dual roles of Declan’s hometown girlfriend and a barmaid in Australia while Eamonn Draper plays two roles - Declan’s grumpy father and his journalist uncle (though some stronger visual differentiation between the two would have helped).
Bondi Beach Boy Blue
The Mayo News/The Western People, Tuesday,
25th September, 2007
The widely acclaimed play, Bondi Beach Boy Blue by Ballinrobe’s Benny McDonnell, will be staged in Ballinrobe Community School, on Thursday, September 27, at 8 pm.
The playwright is a past pupil of the school and the proceeds will be devoted to the School’s Facilities Fund.
The play tells the story of a young Kilkenny hurler, Declan whose career trajectory is altered by injury and thus is forced to re- think his relationships with his father, uncle, girlfriend and his best mate.
Notable figures in the hurling world have been generous in their praise of Bondi Beach Boy Blue. Brian Cody, Kilkenny’s renowned team manager, said the show was "hugely enjoyable, thought- provoking, interesting, realistic, touching and very, very real."
A drama experience of note awaits the Ballinrobe audience on Thursday night.
Bondi Boy is Ballinrobe-bound - Claire Egan
The Mayo News, Tuesday, 25th September, 2007
Take a Mayo man, a passion for hurling and a mad-cap year in Australia and you end up with a crazy Irish tale neatly woven into a splendid new play. Humourous quirks abound – for starters, it is scripted by a merchant banker who is an avid fan of Kilkenny hurling and, secondly, the said scribe is a man from the Yew county, one hardly noted for its love of the ‘small ball’.
The self- titled ‘banker by day and writer by night’ Benny McDonnell, a native of Ballinrobe told The Mayo News that Bondi Beach Boy Blue is his first professional production.
The play is touring Ireland from September to October and at present is showing in Cleere’s Theatre, Kilkenny with dates scheduled for Cork, Kerry, Clare and Galway and Benny’s alma mater, Ballinrobe Community School, on September 27.
The story centres on a talented young Kilkenny hurler, who seeing his hurling career halted by injury, decides to forsake the game he loves and travel to Australia in the company of his best friend. He leaves his girlfriend, Lisa, behind, as well as an indifferent relationship with his father, to embark on a life-altering trip ‘down under’.
"The central character is a guy called Declan who leaves along with his best friend Gary for Australia. They arrive in Sydney and spend the nights partying and days sleeping.
They are convinced by a girl they meet in a bar to run in one of the most famous Australian races ‘The City to Surf’ fun run in Sydney. It is the year of the Sydney Olympics (2000) and of course the story grows legs and it is heard back home that the two boys are running in the Olympics," explains Benny.
Despite the predominantly humourous and carefree context of the play, there are serious undertones to the production.
For instance, Declan’s apathetic relationship with his father, the guidance of his uncle Donie and the centrality of sport in the lives of today’s young generation are explored in tandem with more light-hearted issues.
"It has got a fantastic reception in Kilkenny and of course the feel-good factor of recent weeks has had a knock-on effect for the play. We are running in Kilkenny for six nights, continuing to Cork Arts Centre as well as running in Kilmallock, Ennis, Thurles and Killarney before finishing up with shows in Ballinrobe and Galway. To date, it is going really well and we are delighted," said Benny.
The Ballinrobe man, who hails from the village of Cavan, a short distance from the south Mayo town, has tread a circuitous route to the world of theatre. Having graduated from NUI, Galway in 1998 with a degree in English and Economics followed by a Masters in the latter subject, Benny packed his bags and headed to Oz. Having spent a year travelling he returned to Ireland and put pen to paper.
"My writing career began in college with Good Feathers, which I circulated amongst my friends and a lecturer. I got a good response and that encouraged me further. I featured in The Abbey’s ‘Play Talk’ in 2003 for emerging writers while Bondi Beach Boy Blue was given a public reading by the Fishamble Theatre in Dublin a year later," he explained.
Naturally, an avid theatre fan, Benny cites Sean O’Casey, John B Keane and Tom Murphy as his favourite scribes while sports and mafia books dominate his reading list.
In between an intensive work schedule at the Allied Irish Bank Merchant Services, Donnybrook he combines writing, theatre and, of course, following the hurling championship.
"My uncle and cousin played for Galway and I have always been a fan of hurling. While in college in Galway I continued to follow the game and I also became friends with a number of Kilkenny people, one of whom I went to games with on a regular basis," explained Benny.
Nickey Brennan, President of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) has described Bondi Beach Boy Blue as a production which "depicts the profound importance and influence that Gaelic games, and the game of hurling in particular, can haven on the lives of young people."
Co-incidentally, the proceeds from the Ballinrobe show are going towards the purchase of sports equipment for the local community school.
"We are having two shows in Ballinrobe on September 27 – a matinee and an evening show. All proceeds are going to the purchase of equipment. I guess from my point of view it will be emotional returning to my old home town and school with the play," concluded Benny.
Playwright of the banking world
AIB Teller, September, 2007
A play written by an AIB staff member in Dublin is going on tour around Ireland in September and October. Bondi Beach Boy Blue was written by banker by day and playwright by night, Brendan (Benny) McDonnell, Management Information Specialist in Merchant Services, Donnybrook House.
The play tells the story of Australia-bound Declan and the set of problems he ran away from in Ireland and what he experienced in Australia. Brendan was the first writer featured in The National Theatre’s ‘Play Talk’ 2003 series to develop emerging playwrights and his work has also featured as part of a new writing talent showcase in 2003.
Check local press and entertainment listings for details.
Beach boy sings the blues in Killarney
The Kingdom, September, 2007
Bondi Beach Boy Blue, the latest play by Benny McDonnell will stop off in Killarney later this month for one night only in the Gleneagle Hotel.
The play, a debut production by a new company, has been lined up for Wednesday, September 26 and is bound to go down a storm not only with drama lovers but also GAA fans.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue is the story of a talented young hurler growing up in rural Kilkenny and it tells of his adventurous trip down under.
It follows the fortunes of young Declan, the problems he ran away from in Ireland and what he ran into in Australia.
The star-studded cast of the new production includes Eamonn Draper of Fair City, Saileog O’Halloran, Pat McEneaney and Conor Ryan who is best known for his involvement in the hit play Alone It Stands.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue officially opened in Kilkenny on September 10 and after a six night run began a nationwide tour.
Cleere Thinking - John Cleere
A night (or two) at the theatre, Kilkenny Advertiser,
September 20th, 2007
Bondi Beach Boy Blue
I popped into Cleeres and bumped into some of our hurling greats, including Eddie Keher and Brian Cody coming out of Bondi Beach Boy Blue. I asked Eddie what was it like.
"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant" he replied, so on that recommendation I decided to go along on the following night.
The play tells the story of Declan, a promising young college hurler from Kilkenny and star of the school team. He is injured in an All- Ireland colleges semi final and that is the end of his hurling career. He drifts along through life for a few years, with a succession of dead end jobs and his friend Gary in tow. Lisa, his girlfriend tries to motivate him with her continual urgings to "be pro- active". It doesn’t work and she moves on to university and the two lads are left stranded in small town Ireland. After a particularly demoralising stint working in a pharmaceutical plant in Callan (or "tablet factory", as they call it) they plan to emigrate. With no decent career prospects they decide to head for Australia and the second half is set in Sydney around the Bondi Beach area, where, like many Irish before them, they become instant carpenters by day and bar flies by night.
I was under the impression that this was a one man show, but, thankfully it featured a cast of four. Ryan O’Connor (Declan) and Pat McEneaney (Gary) steal the show, but they have strong support from Eamon Draper and Saileog O’Halloran. The action and the dialogue zips along and the writer, Benny McDonnell, shows an in depth knowledge of Kilkenny and its hurling traditions. All the more surprising, as Benny is a native of Ballinrobe.
The play is on national tour and even stops off in the heart of hurling enemy territory, Thurles, next week. It’s a must- see for any hurling fan, but has plenty to say about modern Irish life in general as well and, unlike our rugby heroes, there are no under- achievers in this production.
One hurl of a play
The Irish Sun, September 20th, 2007
A new play about hurling is really on the ball - according to real stars of the game.
Kilkenny’s manager and former player Brian Cody is just one top figure from the world of hurling to heap praise on Bondi Beach Boy Blue by playwright Benny McDonnell of Ballinrobe, Co Mayo.
The play which had its premiere at Cleere’s Theatre bar in Kilkenny, follows the story of a promising young hurler who flees to Australia because of the game’s pressures.
Cody said: "The play was very real and hugely enjoyable.
"I thought it was thought provoking, interesting, and touching."
It is being staged in Ennis, Thurles, Killarney, Mayo and Galway in the next two weeks.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue
The Kilkenny People, Friday 7th September, 2007
As hurling action may be quieter for a bit following Sunday’s All- Ireland win fans can enjoy some off-the-field entertainment in the form of a new theatre show which opens at Cleere’s this weekend.
OCI Productions presents Bondi Beach Boy Blue by Benny McDonnell based on an idea by him and Paul Feely which opens on Monday for a six night run.
Directed by Connor Maguire, the show tells the tale of Declan who’s poised to become a hurling great until his potential is cut short. With best friend Gary he bolts for Bondi in a bid to start again.
GAA President Nickey Brennan has said the show "depicts the profound importance and influence that Gaelic games, and the game of hurling in particular, can have on the lives of young people."
Black and amber tribute to a boy in blue
The Kilkenny People, Friday 7th September, 2007
For those who didn’t get their fill of Kilkenny hurling at the weekend, a new play about the beloved game is making its debut in Cleere’s next week.
Bondi Beach Boy Blue by Benny McDonnell of Ballinrobe, Co Mayo will take to the stage from Monday to Saturday, courtesy of Dublin- based OCI Productions.
It tells the story of Declan, a young man set to become another Kilkenny hurling great until fate intervenes. Armed with a passport and not much else, accompanied by his best friend Gary, Declan bolts for Ireland’s Antipodean outpost: Bondi.
Disillusioned with life at home, he is seeking pastures new. In a land of sun, fun and a thousand friendly faces, 10,000 miles from home, with the Olympics coming, it’s an exciting time.
It’s a chance to start again. Can Declan take it? Or is any attempt at escape doomed to failure?
Based on an idea by Paul Feely and Benny McDonnell, Bondi Beach Boy Blue is Declan’s story: the story of his relationship with the important people in his life - his father, his uncle Donie, Gary and Lisa – his girlfriend.
It’s the story of the set of problems he ran away from in Ireland and what he ran into in Australia, the story of a small town hero being forced from his comfort zone and having to find his place on a larger stage.
GAA President Nickey Brennan has welcomed the play - "in particular the manner in which it depicts the profound importance and influence that Gaelic games, and the game of hurling in particular, can have on the lives of young people."
He already has a seat for the show. To book yours ring Cleere’s
on 056 7762573. Tickets cost €12/€10.
Life’s a beach when Bondi comes calling - John Cleary
Kilkenny Advertiser, Thursday 6th September, 2007
After the thrill of another All-Ireland final behind us many are left with a gluttonous thirst for more of the camán and the sliothar to keep alive the memories of another gripping year for the Cats.
And the latest talented troupe of entertainers to pitch their stall in Cleere’s Theatre may have just the outlet for a hurling mad county as well as an opportunity for many to relive the glory days of their adventure down under.
Promising young playwright Benny McDonnell and Clareman, director Connor Maguire, kick of their production of McDonnell’s play Bondi Beach Boy Blue with an opening night salvo in the Kilkenny venue next Monday.
The sickle-shaped inlet of Sydney’s Bondi Beach and its surrounds have proven something of a lodestar for young
Irish travellers over the years, to the extent that it rivals Boston for the title of the country’s 33rd county.
Its white sands are carved into the Australian shoreline as though some ancient Aboriginal boomerang ran ashore there hundreds of millions of years ago, the appeal of
Bondi’s warm sun and cool waters to Irish backpackers is obvious.
It all sounds delightful I hear you say, but what on earth does any of this have to do with hurling?
Central to McDonnell’s play is the character of Declan, a young Kilkenny man with a bright future in hurling whose attentions turn to the allure of Ireland’s antipodean outpost.
The play has already received praise from GAA President Nickey Brennan who announced himself delighted with the depiction of gaelic games as having a profound impact on the lives of young people.
When fate intervenes and Declan’s hurling career is put on hold, himself and his best friend Gary pack their passports and head for proverbial greener pastures in the land down under.
Viewing the journey as an opportunity to start again and escape the problems that have plagued and disillusioned him at home, Declan’s arrival in Sydney is an exciting time in his life.
The iconic images of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, the sun, sea and the sand and a universal appreciation of a cold beer particularly among the hordes of Irish who frequent the coastal watering holes open up a whole new world to the Kilkenny native, forcing him out of his comfort zone.
Set in Sydney in the run up to the 2000 Olympic Games, the city is abuzz with the eyes of the rest of the world focused firmly upon it ahead of the global sporting event.
Lost in the new world the two friends begin to fabricate a story that grows legs and reaches their homeland, forcing them to either face up and tell the truth or continue to fall further into the lie.
Amidst the animation and confusion of this new world McDonnell tackles the complexities of his hero’s key relationships, with his father, his uncle Donie, his best friend Gary and his girlfriend Lisa.
Producer Declan Furlong describes the play as a "black comedy".
"It’s about a young Kilkenny hurler, a rising star tipped to be one of the greats who has never put much effort into anything else," he says.
"When injury robs him of this dream he is forced to look at what else he has got in his locker.
"His mother is dead and his father, a big hurling fan, is trying to convince him that you have to have more than one string to your bow."
McDonnell and Furlong met when they studied English in UCG and the two friends later made their own trip to Australia which will have provided plenty of background inspiration for this story.
After a lot of praise but no solid offers the two friends have decided to take it into their own hands and get the production on the road.
"There has been a lot of support from the theatre community but no one was willing to run with it so we decided if you want something done you have got to do it yourself," Furlong says.
"If there is a good reaction to it we would love to take it to all the arts festivals next year and maybe in the second half of the year we could bring it around the secondary schools."
Bondi Beach Boy Blue opens at Cleere’s Theatre, Kilkenny, on Monday, September 10 at 8pm and runs through to Saturday, September 15. Tickets are available from Cleere’s on (056) 7762573.
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