As Killarney Musical Society prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary with the production of ‘All Shook Up’, the spotlight this week falls on local performer Lily MacMonagle Shannon, who takes on the role of Sylvia.

The highly anticipated show will run at the Gleneagle Arena on February 10, 11, and 12.

The character of Sylvia is the sharp-witted and confident owner of the local bar where much of the musical’s action unfolds.

A central figure in the town, she is portrayed as a voice of experience and honesty.

While she maintains a tough and worldly exterior, the story follows her journey toward self-acceptance and a second chance at romance.

Lily MacMonagle Shannon is a well-known figure in the Killarney arts scene as a performer, director, and educator.

A graduate of The Bull Alley Theatre Training Company and Trinity Guildhall London, she is also the founder and director of The MACademy Performing Arts School.

A member of the Killarney Musical Society since 1998, Lily’s previous stage credits include Grease, Me & My Girl, and Evita.

She notably won an AIMS Best Actress award for her portrayal of the title role in Sweet Charity.

Beyond her own performances, Lily has seen many of her students go on to perform at the INEC and appear on RTÉ Junior.

Speaking about the upcoming production, Lily stated she is honoured to be part of the society’s landmark 40th year and looks forward to many more years on the Killarney stage.

Tickets for the three-night run of ‘All Shook Up’ are currently available through Ticketmaster or via the Gleneagle Box Office.

GUBU (Grotesque Unbelievable, Bizarre Unprecedented):the acronym was the joint invention of Taoiseach Charles J. Haughey and his political arch-nemesis and lifelong opponent Conor Cruise O’Brien.
The Cruiser coined the acronym GUBU from the adjectives of Haughey’s words ‘grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented’, said during a press conference in August 1982.
Taoiseach Charlie was explaining why murder suspect Malcolm Macarthur was arrested in the apartment of the then Irish Attorney General Patrick Connolly.
GUBU Daingean Uí Chúis, well, not quite, but still close enough. Omit the grotesque, and the term fits the scene just after Mikey Geaney kicked the winning point, and Paul Geaney had the good sense to kick the ball well wide instead of trying to tap over a close-in free.
The Eagle landed and the Cup was raised in the January cold. Familiar club songs echoed to celebrate the Westerners’ victory, a tradition highlighted over the years by the powerful voice of Seán O’Sé.
He was laid to rest in Bantry on January 13, just short of his 90th birthday. Two days later, Daingean Uí Chúis had to be ar buile to deliver the Cup.
Mark O’Connor, Tom O’Sullivan and many more ensured that the Club Canister, the ultimate senior club title that evaded West Kerry greats such as the O’Sé brothers Dara, Tomás, Marc and Uncle Paudie: Dara Ó’Cinnéide, Aodhgán Mac Gearailt et al would travel over Blennerville Bridge on Monday of this week.
Daingean Uí Chúis’ dramatic AET 0-23 to 1-19 win over St Brigid’s, Rocscommon was a thriller.
It was another Late Late Show by the Kerry club side. Hauled back to level pegging at the end of normal time, they became the supreme survivors in the 2025 club campaigns. What An Ghaeltacht did we will also do was the spur for these arch- rival neighbours in West Kerry.
Congratulations to Daingean Uí Chúis, An Ghaeltacht, and Ballymacelligott on making history, as they are the first clubs in the same county to win all three All-Ireland club football titles. Kilkenny is the only other county whose clubs won all 3hurling titles in the same year.

The critics of the criteria on which teams qualify to play on the various grades have been having a field day.
Time for mature reflection. Stats. don’t tell lies; sometimes they also don’t tell all of the truth.
Since the All-Ireland senior club football championship was introduced in 1971, Kerry have won it just seven times: East Kerry, Castleisland Desmonds, Laune Rangers, Austin Stacks, Daingean Uí Chúis, all with just a single title.
Dr Crokes won it twice. How come Austin Stacks, with a plethora of Kerry All -Stars and one from Cork (Denny Long), doesn’t win more titles?
Divisional board teams have been debarred from the senior competition since 1972. East Kerry were the only divisional board team to win in 1971, the inaugural year.
Seven titles in 54 years is a very poor return for a county that leads the way with 39 All- Ireland Senior Football Championship titles.
Thanks to the foresight of Seán Kelly, Kilcummin/Fossa/MEP, he extended the All-Ireland club championships to include junior and intermediate grades.
I digress.
Enter the spirit of Matt the Thresher associated with the character Matt Donovan, an ordinary small farmer from the classic novel ‘Knocknagow, by Irish writer Charles Kickham.
In the novel, Matt Donovan, also known as Matt the Thresher, finds himself in a sledgehammer-throwing contest with an English Officer, Captain French.
During the contest, Matt threw the hammer so far that he broke all records, to the delight of the Irish supporters overcoming the English challenge.
After winning, Matt says: “It’s for the sake of the little village and for the honour of the old home.”
This quote reflects Matt’s commitment to his village and the respect he holds for his home. The original Matt the Thresher restaurant is located in Birdhill, County Tipperary and was a great place to stop for a meal on the old road to or from Dublin.
David v Goliath
The club championship invokes resilience, adaptability and self-belief in David v Goliath epics such as we had with the three Kerry club winners. The hit song of today recalls the pride of the club and parish.
‘All I have to remember is the pride that I felt.
‘Round the Páirc Uí Chinnéide where the boys never knelt’
You win in your own county, and then you travel on the road to Croker to prove that your small club could be the best in the country.
It was first held in 2002 as an unofficial tournament and has been an official GAA championship since the 2004–05 season.
Kerry clubs have had the most success, winning the junior competition twelve times. The current junior champions are Ballymacelligott, stretching back the years to Finuge’s opening win.
Kerry clubs have also dominated the intermediate series, winning eight All -Irelands. Tyrone clubs come next, winning three, so the gulf is there.

I believe that the toughest battle Kerry clubs have is to win out in Kerry, and they can have All Stars such as David and Paudie Clifford in their ranks, brilliant inter county All- Ireland winners and yet play junior for Fossa.
No rule is broken. There’s the nub, the facility to play with your small club, where the rising tide lifts all boats, and this particular boat sailed ashore to glory in January 2023.
What a memorable day. They defeated Stewardstown Harps (Tyrone) 0-19 to 1-16. I met
Fossa people at Croker that day, that day on their maiden voyage to Croke Park to see Paudie lift the Cup so dear to the hearts of the winners.
Kilcummin had done likewise in 2017, lifting the Intermediate Cup. The shining light for this writer in Croke Park was Kevin McCarthy, the brilliant wing forward, and I believe that his personal score in that final still stands as a record.
Kevin played with the Kerry minors in 2011 and 2012, and he lined out at under 21 level in 2015 but did not progress to senior intercounty like his illustrious brother Mike, a brilliant defender.
Correct but inaccurate?
Those who complain that the system favours Kerry clubs are correct. Continue the argument. Kerry’s grading system is wrong, and clubs outside of Kerry are at a huge disadvantage. Correct, but why do I ask?
Yes, Ballymacelligott, All-Ireland Junior champions, played in Division 1 of the Kerry County league,
Kerry, after all, has only nine senior clubs, and they are joined by seven divisional board teams for the Kerry SFC.
Meath has 16 senior clubs. When you have just nine senior clubs, there are some very strong clubs and players at intermediate and junior levels. Should Kerry have more senior clubs?
The use of so many divisional board teams in Kerry has been a very significant factor in Kerry’s All- Ireland wins.
They spawned stars such as John Egan, Aeroplane O’ Shea, the Spillane brothers, the O’Sé clan, including Uncle Páidí, Tom Pender from Keel and many more.

Kerry has organised its clubs, including the divisional board teams, since 1924 wheb The Irish Civil War ended in 1923 and the enlightened Kerry County board in the new Free State adopted the system as we know it today.
It has worked, so why change it?
I believe that the divisional board system, geographically based, has contributed very significantly to winning 39 intercounty titles.
If it works, why change it? One must add that you need quality players to win the Sam Maguire, whether they come from Ballydonoghue, Fossa, or Beaufort.
It means every player in Kerry has access to senior championship football with their club or division.
No one is left behind. So small rural clubs are protected and less likely to transfer to the larger urban clubs. I admit there are exceptions, but they are rare. Look at all the players from small clubs at minor and Under 20’s who blossom with Kerry.
No cheating
Kerry are not cheating; they are working the system incredibly well within the laws and structures laid down by the GAA.
Incidentally, Ballynacargy Westmeath are urging their county board to adopt the successful Kerry system of grading.
Access for all players to play in their county’s various championships is a key factor in Kerry’s successes.
Why should the law -abiding Kerry County Board be hauled over the coals?
Other counties may well adopt or adapt the successful Kerry structure.
Time will tell. One must add that a winning structure alone will not suffice. You need quality players. The Irish seanfhocail capture that so well, but they pale in translation. You know the ones about the racehorse and the donkey or the efforts to create a silken purse.