Mother of All The Behans Returns this Summer

Following sold out performances last summer, Mother Of All The Behans, starring Imelda May, will make a highly anticipated return to Ireland. Playing at

3Olympia Theatre, Dublin: Tuesday 29th July to Saturday 2nd August 2025

Theatre Royal Waterford: Tuesday 05th – Saturday 09 August, 2025

Everyman Cork: Tuesday 12th–Saturday 16th August 2025

Grand Opera House, Belfast: Monday 18th -Sat 24th August 2025

Adapted & directed for the stage by Peter Sheridan
From the book by Brian Behan 

Additional material by Rosaleen Linehan

★★★★ The Irish Times  ★★★★ The Arts Review ★★★★★ Hot Press 

Join Imelda May for an evening of songs & stories celebrating the life of Brendan’s Mammy. Mother of All the Behans is the story of his ‘inspirational’ mother Kathleen, a fascinating record of a remarkable life. Inspired by the songs and stories handed down through generations, this retelling is an entertaining journey through the social history of Dublin and the Behan family history.

Speaking ahead of her sold out run in 2024, Imelda May said: “I’m over the moon to get to reprise my role of Brendan Behans extraordinary mother Kathleen in Peter Sheridan’s incredible one woman play Mother Of All the Behans. I hold Kathleen’s story very close to my heart as I do all the women’s stories that have shaped the world but are too often unspoken about.

I’m very aware of the chance Peter has taken and has given me in casting me as Kathleen and I am indebted to him for trusting me to put the work in and do a good job of it. I’m a storyteller for sure but a one person play is no easy feat for even a well trained actor but months of dedication and hard work paid off and thanks to you all filling the theatre night after night and spreading the word when you left, we’ve been asked to do it again!!

I couldn’t be more humbled or more grateful to you all!”

Imelda May Triumphant in Mother of All The Behans. A marvellous evening of theatre.

 2025 Tour dates:

 3Olympia, Dublin

Tuesday 29th July to Saturday 2nd August 2025.

 https://www.3olympia.ie/whats-on/mother-of-all-the-behans

Theatre Royal Waterford

Tues 05 – Sat 09 August, 2025

 https://theatreroyal.ie/event/mother-of-all-the-behans/

 Everyman Cork

Tues 12–Sat 16 August 2025

 https://everymancork.com/events/mother-of-all-the-behans/

 Grand Opera House, Belfast

Monday 18 -Sat 24 August 2025

 https://www.goh.co.uk/whats-on/the-mother-of-all-the-behans

The whole makes for a highly entertaining evening, with the audience clearly enjoying both story and song….the singer’s voice: clear and pure, characterful, humorous, by turns powerful and gentle. May, thrown in at the deep end in her first theatrical role, displays comic timing and an eye for bringing characters to life, often humorously. The Irish Times ★★★★

Imelda carries all of this drama off brilliantly. She manages the conversational tone of the writing superbly. The jokes land, and there is laughter on and off throughout. Catch it if you can. Hot Press ★★★★★

If Kathleen Behan was around today, there’s no doubt she would approve….for a stage debut…this was certainly something to witness Daily Mail ★★★★

it’s all rather magical. Taking your breath away a little… a fitting tribute to a remarkable woman The Arts Review ★★★★

Huge respect to May for taking on this challenge Irish Independent

Photo’s by Ros Kavanagh

Set & Costume Design by Louise Dunne

Lighting Design by Barry McKinney

Sound Design by Terry Heron