In Reply to: Re: Madam burke posted by Ould Stock on October 02, 2005 at 13:19:08:

I felt sure I had heard my mother speak of Madam Burke. When I asked her today if she knew her, her face lit up and she said "Of course I do". She told me that Madam Burke played piano in the "Barrack Variety Shows" in Castlebar in the mid 1940s. My mother, Maureen Quigley sang "My Little Grey Home in the West" and "Rose O'Day" in the show accompanied by Madam Burke on piano. Mother also mentioned others who took part in the shows; Violet Padden, Teresa Egan and Gertie McCormack. This talented group also starred in Castlebar light Opera such as "The Country Girl" and "Lilac Time" under the directorship of Mr Stephen Garvey. Remembering Madam Burke brought such joy to Mother that I could almost see the years being stripped away to when she was just a girl in Castlebar. She is now 81 years now but today, she was a girl again for a while.