The following article appeared in the Kilkenny People newspaper. Date: 4 July 2008

AMERICAN INVASION OF THE WORKHOUSE - In an unlikely but entirely welcome turn of events, a group of 18 willing Americans/ Canadians arrived in Callan two weeks ago to make a major attack on the Workhouse – an attack on rubbish and dereliction! All graduates or associated with Phillips Exeter Academy, the secondary school that Patrick Lydon attended, the group came as a Community Service Project to help the cause of renovating the workhouse on the way to becoming the civic-medical centre that is planned.

Many trailer loads of heritage material, with a lot of rubbish mixed through, was carefully removed. The immediate goal was to clear the large internal spaces so that they can become the setting for a unique theatre event that will be staged during August – a play written to evoke the difficult history and atmosphere of the buildings.

Being produced by Asylum Productions with the support of Tom Kilroy, the revered playwright who grew up across the road and spent many childhood hours playing in the Workhouse grounds, the piece will move through the Workhouse as its plot unfolds.

As well as getting a lot of work done, the visitors got to know many of Callan’s favourite spots – many pubs were visited, and a donkey ride starting at Kennedy’s thatched house in Moonarch provided a traditional thrill! An outing to see Clare’s fine victory over Limerick in Thurles may have created a new initiative for hurling in North America, and the follow up visit to a local hurley maker created a new export market.

And there were local rumours that Britney Spears was seen pulling pints in several local premises – is there any photographic evidence to prove it?

The whole gang was gone just one week after arrival with a power of work achieved. All those involved in the Workhouse project are deeply grateful and we hope that many of the group will come to Callan again in some new worthy endeavour.