Irish comedy trio call it a day

Irish musical comedy trio The Nualas are calling it quits.

Anne Gildea, who formed the close-harmony group almost 25 years ago, said that getting the all-clear from breast cancer prompted her decision to ‘try new things’.

Now she, Sue Collins and Maria Tecce are to perform just four more shows this month and next, before heading their separate ways.

The original line-up of Anne, Sue and stand-up and actress Tara Flynn stopped performing in 2002 after several seven successful years at home, at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Melbourne International Comedy festival.

They reformed in 2011, after Gildea was first diagnosed with breast cancer, undergoing chemotherapy and a mastectomy  the following year.

But she told the Irish Sun that after finally being given the all-clear she wants to move on.

She said:  About ten days ago I went in for my check-up, and my consultant told me, "Do you know what, Anne? You’re clear and don’t need to come back again". That made me think there are other things I want to do other than The Nualas because life is so short.’

Collins also performs as half of a comedy duo called The Dirtbirds while Tecce is also an actor and corporate voice coach.

The Nualas play the Civic Theatre in Tallaght on November 29, the  Riverside Park Hotel Macroom in Co Cork on December 1, the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray on December 7 and the Watergate Theatre Kilkenny on December 8.

Published: 20 Nov 2018