Tommy Fleming Takes Lead Role In Paddy Musical

Tommy Fleming is set to star in a musical for the first time. The renowned singer is set to play the title role in a new drama/musical simply entitled Paddy.
After premiering at the Royal Theatre in Castlebar last month, with three sell-out performances, Paddy will undertake a nationwide tour which kicks off at Cork Opera House on Wednesday 21st October.
Paddy is the work of Fleming, Midwest Radio’s Tommy Marren and Mayo-based songwriter Gerry Carney. It tells the story of emigration in all its shapes and forms, with 13 original songs painting a picture of where the various characters are at any given time.
Tommy Fleming plays the part of young Irish emigrant Patrick Murphy, who leaves Mayo in the 1960’s in search of fame and fortune. Also starring Ollie Rouse, Deirdre O’Meara, Mary Marren and Eileen Slevin, the show follows Paddy’s life in London and Ireland over a 25 year period.
"Initially set in rural Ireland in the 1960’s where few opportunities exist, the main protagonist heads for the building sites of London like so many others before him,” a press release issued by the promoters explains. "He leaves behind a heart-broken mother and grandmother as well as his childhood sweetheart Kathleen and vows to return soon with enough money to set up a better life in Ireland. However, on the night of his arrival Patrick encounters a chance meeting with Paddy ‘The Shovel’ (Carney) and his life changes forever."
Tommy Fleming is one of Ireland’s most popular and successful singers. His involvement in Paddy is seen as a natural progression in a career that has seen him perform sell-out solo concerts in Ireland, the UK, America and Australia as well as performing alongside stars like Phil Coulter, Kenny Rodgers and Elaine Page.
The Clare native is thrilled to be playing the leading role in the show. “I’m really looking forward to this project,” he says. "It has been a long time in the making and now that we’re in full rehearsals, I know it has the potential to be a massive success. Emigration has touched practically every family in Ireland and I think we’ve gone about putting on a production that deals with it in a very unique way. I’ve always wanted to act, so to be able to mix both acting and singing is really exciting”.
The project comes on the foot of director Tommy Marren’s hugely successful production of It’s The Real McCoy, which toured Ireland, the UK and America for over three years. He is confident that Paddy will be equally successful.
“People love a good story,” Tommy says, "and I can promise them that Paddy isn’t just a moving story but it also features some incredible songs. We’ve gone to great lengths to make sure that the drama and the music sit comfortably together. The whole show is charged with emotion, comedy and strong songs. Only time will tell – but I’m really confident that if we can reproduce on stage what we’re doing in rehearsals this project will be magic”.
For singer/songwriter Gerry Carney seeing Paddy hit the stage has been a dream come true. He wrote the song ‘Paddy’ a number of years ago and has seen it recorded by numerous artists in Ireland.
“The song ‘Paddy’ has been huge and people all over the world relate to it,” he says. "Seeing it as an integral part of this project is wonderful – but I’m equally pleased that all the other original songs are just as strong. To be able to premiere the show in Mayo is terrific and I know people will really enjoy it.”