Our 2025 Remembered series is brought to you in association with Bloom HQ, Mountrath
What a contribution JP Cahillane has made to the Portlaoise Pantomime over the years. We spoke to him after this year’s production in January.
As Portlaoise Pantomime Group celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, JP Cahillane, the Kerryman who co-founded it with the late Sean O’Reilly, is bowing out.
Currently treasurer, JP will step down from all involvement in the group at the AGM.
“I want to give young people the chance to get involved. I am in my late 70s and it is time for me to step back and let young people take over. I will still keep an interest in the group and go to the shows,” said JP who is originally from Killorglin.
After studying agriculture/horticulture in college in Dublin, he went to work with the Department of Agriculture in Wicklow in 1970, moving to Portlaoise in 1971, to work in the technical section of the department.
Through his work there, he met his wife, Mary McKevitt from Mountrath, at a party. They married in 1973, built a house in Portlaoise and went on to have three children: Emma, Niamh and Paul.
His love of pantomime was fostered by Killorglin Pantomime Group. “The group celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1984 and brought the show ‘Old King Cole’ to Dublin.
“I went up to see it with Mary, my friend, John Fennell, and his wife, Dolores.”
Inspired by the production, JP was keen to harness local talent. “I thought it was a very good show, with everything I wanted to see in a pantomime.
“I said to John: ‘I think Portlaoise needs a pantomime’. I spoke to a few people and got the name of a wonderful man who knew the town better than me, the late Sean O’Reilly, a veteran of the Portlaoise stage, and we set up the group in 1984.
“We made it a community group. Anyone who wanted to could be involved.
“Patsy Campion was the producer for the first 12 years, a fair achievement and the pantomime has gone from strength to strength over the years.
“A highlight of those years has been seeing the enjoyment people got out of it. It brightens up January for people, with music, song and dance,” said JP.
It wasn’t all plain sailing though, according to JP. Challenges included getting the numbers in but it was always well supported, he said.
“It was a huge commitment. We brought in children and Transition Year students some years. The cost of putting on the production at the present moment is about €40,000.
“Without sponsors and patrons, we wouldn’t get in the door. We have tried to keep admission costs down at €20 for the night shows and €15 for the matinees.”
His personal favourites include ‘Old King Cole’ and ‘Mother Goose.’
They have great comedy and songs, said JP who played the dame in the first show ‘Old King Cole’ on the stage of St Mary’s CBS which was then located at Tower Hill, with son, Paul, playing the goose in ‘Mother Goose’ 23 years ago.
JP said: “I never wanted to be on stage. I preferred the background but we couldn’t get a dame and I spent 21 years doing the part afterwards.”
New talent was attracted as the years went by and many friendships formed.
“We have great talent around the town,” said JP. This year’s fun-filled sell out show ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ which was performed in the Dunamaise Arts Centre, was written and produced by Laois playwright, Frances Harney.
Soon to be relieved of handling the purse strings – the AGM is usually held in early March but the date, time and venue have yet to be decided – JP is looking forward to being able to sit back and relax in the audience.
“I was kept busy trying to ensure the finance was there. We contributed a significant amount of money to local charities over the years.
“My belief is that if you get in a few bob, it should go back out to charities in the community.”
With the curtain coming down on his pantomime involvement, JP will have more time to spend on his involvement in Portlaoise GAA.
Our 2025 Remembered series is brought to you in association with Bloom HQ, Mountrath
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