met Peggy Creagh in Castle Street in Tralee and both were bemoaning the lack of a musical society in Tralee. They decided to advertise in a local newspaper for people interested in setting up such a society. One week later a meeting was held and was attended by 11 people. Encouraged by this another meeting was arranged and over 40 people attended. It was on this night that the first committee was
formed and the Tralee Musical Society was born. The committee consisted of Tom Slattery (Chairperson), Teddy Healy (Vice Chairperson), Irene Gould Mc Galey along with Peggy Creagh, Michael Brassil and John Kennedy. To raise funds a panto “Aladdin” was staged in January 1987 and “Cinderella” in January 1988, and so having raised enough to stage a musical “Oliver” was the societys first musical production in December 1988. On the strength of this solid foundation the society has grown from strength to strength producing musicals such as South Pacific, Showboat, Annie Get Your Gun, Jesus Christ Superstar, Children of Eden and Copacabana. Since 1994 Tralee Musical Society has also been turning out their annual and ever popular That’s Entertainment Variety Shows which have been thrilling audiences with its blend of toe tapping music and dance all interwoven with hilarious comedy and lavish sets. For the past number of years Tralee Musical Society have been affiliated to A.I.M.S.,The Association of Irish Musical Societies and are included in a national adjudication scheme for our musicals each year. Currently we are ranked in the top ten out of 120 societies nationwide. Tralee Musical Society are deeply indebted to the men and women of 30 years ago who dared to dream of a society dedicated to thrilling audiences from far and near with their spectacular productions of song and dance. Such has been the demand to see our shows in recent years that it is plainly obvious that Tralee Musical Society will continue to perform in front of full houses well into the future.
