Montforts was established in 1958 by Eileen Nolan, who had previously founded a group called the "Montfort Singers" which performed at the "Cork Opera House". Its success inspired her to found the school. The Montfort College of Performing Art's most recent productions were "Camp Rock" - Everyman Palace Theatre, "Cinderella" - Firkin Crane, Broadway Kidz - Half-Moon Theatre, "Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" - Everyman Palace Theatre, "Snow White & The Seven Dwarves" - Firkin Crane, "Broadway Kidz" - Half Moon Theatre & "The Little Mermaid" - Everyman Palace Theatre. Upcoming productions include "Beauty & The Beast" - Firkin Crane, "Broadway Kidz" - TBA & "The Witches" - TBA.
Notable alumni
Professional Theatre
Bill Murphy-Film,TV and Stage actor working alongside oscar winner, Kevin Spacey, Collin Farrell, Helen Baxindale, James Brolin, Dianne Weiss, Cris Maloni and has played all the major theatres in Ireland and England including the Gate Theatre, Irish National theatre and notably the Barbican Theatre in London, home of the Royal Shakespearean Company
Michael McCarthy – star of Les Misérables in the West End and on Broadway
Elaine and Eílish Symmons – Elaine - working in the National Theatre and appeared in many TV shows and movies. Eílish – appeared in Fair City and has appeared in many professional productions.
Irene Warren – played in Les Misérables and Starlight Express on the West End
Damian Delaney – danced in Cats and Half a Sixpence and now appearing in Billy Elliot in Victoria Palace, London.
Mark O Shaughnessy - originally trained with and taught for the Montfort Stage School before going on to do a degree in theatre studies at Stephens College, in Missouri, USA. After completing his studies he spent a year working for the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny before heading to London where he has worked for the past 10 years. His favourite roles have included Jack and the Wolfe in Into The Woods, Claude in Hair, Robert in An Ideal Husband, Lennox in Macbeth, and Inspector Trotter in the touring production of The Mousetrap. Mark returned to Cork this year and has played the role of the Pied Piper in the Opera House panto as well as Mr. Sowerberry and Dr. Grimwig in Oliver for The Opera House and Helix theatres. Mark last worked with the Montforts in their production of Anything Goes, at the Everyman Palace, where he took on the role of Billy Crocker.
Norma Sheahan
Teachers, who opened their own Drama Schools after qualifying with the Montforts include: Maura Currivan – Catherine Mahon Buckley – Geraldine Foley – Philip McTeggart Walsh – Rebecca Allman – Christopher Hennessy – Maria McCarthy – Nevin and Susan O'Driscoll – Elaine Carlisle – Margo Carlisle
