Remembering Waterford musical theatre legend Patsy Sheridan

Patsy Sheridan was a legend in musical theatre in Waterford. His drive, organization skills and commitment was his trademark and his shows were his signature.

Patsy started in Tops of the Town in the Sixties and by the Seventies was producer of the most successful Tops shows ever staged. His ACEC shows oozed class and talent. With Betty Bible as choreographer and Denny Corcoran on comedy, ACEC Tops won four national finals at the Gaiety Theatre in the years 1970, 1974, along with live televised finals in 1976, and 1977 – a feat that was never equaled.

Patsy’s ACEC shows were light-years ahead of their time. Their dancers were the best in the country, the hilarious Ballyhassy Ballad appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and their innovation with high-end West End Shows, such as Jesus Christ Superstar – in which he played the title role of Jesus – and Evita were subsequently copied by Tops shows all around the country. His final Tops show, ‘Aft, Daft and Abaft’, was with the Port and Docks in 1992 and reached the local final.

Patsy also produced the local panto and I’m proud to say that I appeared, along with my close friend and colleague Liam Murphy, as Statler and Waldorf in his 1977 panto. I’m sure that Patsy would claim that he set us on the road to become critics.

He loved musical theatre and was still producing in the nineties. He produced ‘Fame’ for a fledgling youth group and a comment from Wayne Brown on his Theatre Archive Facebook expresses how much Patsy was valued by the rising stars of local musical theatre:

"I know a lot of friends of Patsy are in this group. A man of legendary status - and always in my mind as the only 'adult' as he was at the time with experience who was willing to take a chance on a new theatre group and direct 'Fame' back in 1992 with a bunch of kids and inexperienced young adults. 

"I'll always be grateful because without him taking that chance many of us would never have enjoyed the decades of theatre involvement that followed." 

Patsy had endless energy and was the perfect organiser. In later years, he brought those talents to working with Waterford Lions Club and organised fund-raising events for local charities. With his old colleague Betty Bible on board, Patsy was the main driving force behind Strictly Déise Dancing.

Patsy was also heavily involved with St Paul’s Parish and was the driving force behind their gospel choir.

Above all, however, Patsy will always be remembered as ‘Mr Entertainer’ – a song-and-dance man of extraordinary directorial talent that had the innate ability to drive teams on to achieve excellence in musical theatre in Waterford.

God bless you, Patsy. You were one of our own.

Funeral arrangements

Patsy Sheridan, late of Lismore Park, Waterford city, and formerly of Robinsons Lane, Waterford, died on Friday, June 12. 

Late of ACEC and Ember Fire and Safety, and a lifetime member of Waterford Lions Club, he is predeceased by his mother Mary Bridget, father Henry, sister Mary and brother Jimmy.

Sadly missed by his loving wife Bernie, his children Tina, Mary and Derek, son-in-law Liam, daughter-in-law Michelle, grandchildren Kelly, Graham, Lisa, Nicole, Jake, Josh and Adam, great-grandchildren Harrison, Ayda and Lola, brothers Harry and Tommy, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Patsy will be reposing at Thompson's Funeral Home, Barrack St, Waterford, on Monday, June 15, from 3-5pm with vigil prayers and Rosary at 4pm.

Patsy's funeral cortege will walk from the Bank on Fr. Gregory Way for Requiem Mass on arrival in St. Paul’s Church, Lisduggan, on Tuesday, June 16, at 1pm followed by burial in St. Killian’s Cemetery, Ferrybank. Mass will be livestreamed at 1pm.

Family flowers only please, donations if desired to Waterford Hospice.

May he Rest in Peace.