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theatre · Tuesday 20 October 2026 · 8:00pm 
The Cable
At Backstage Theatre · Farneyhoogan, Longford, Co. Longford
At Backstage Theatre · Farneyhoogan, Longford, Co. Longford
Backstage Theatre hosts The Cable on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, a touring drama written and performed by Mike Kelly and co-produced by Siamsa Tire, Kerry’s national folk theatre. Set on Valentia Island during the laying of the Transatlantic Cable in the nineteenth century, the play uses that moment of sudden technological change to tell a more intimate story of love, loss and the need for human connection.
Directed by Aidan Dooley with original music by Dave McGilton, The Cable runs 85 minutes with an interval and is recommended for audiences aged 12 and up. Kelly’s writing and solo performance carry the piece, drawing on the real history of Valentia Island’s role in the first permanent transatlantic telegraph connection as a backdrop for a story about how ordinary lives are reshaped when the wider world suddenly arrives on the doorstep. Recorded original Irish music underscores the storytelling throughout, in keeping with Siamsa Tire’s distinctive approach to blending traditional performance with contemporary drama. The production is on a national and international tour supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, so this is a single date in Longford rather than a run, and it is worth booking ahead.
Backstage Theatre is at Farneyhoogan on the edge of Longford town, a short drive from the town centre with on-site parking. The box office can be reached on 043 3347888, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, for booking queries.
A touring production of this scale passing through Longford is worth building an evening around, with plenty more to see in the county town before or after. There is more to see in Longford and across Co. Longford.
Heading to Backstage Theatre in Longford? Longford has plenty more to see. Read the Longford area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.