The Nualas were an Irishcabaret trio known for performingspoof songs.[1][2] The group — with characters named Nuala, Nuala and Nuala—[3][4] was founded by Anne Gildea, Sue Collins andTara Flynn in 1995. Flynn was replaced at several points since 2002 by Susanna de Wrixon,[5][6] Karen Egan,[7][8] Maria Tecce,[9][10] and Josephine O'Reilly.[1][11] Performing predominantly in the UK and Ireland, including theEdinburgh Fringe in 2001 and 2014,[12] they also performed in New York and theMelbourne International Comedy Festival Gala.[1][13][14] The group last performed in 2018.[10]
Anne Gildea is an Irish writer and comedian. Anne's brother isKevin Gildea, known for his work at theInternational Comedy Cellar.[17][18] She was a co-star onGerry Ryan Tonight.[19] She is a survivor of breast cancer.[20] She has a show called "How to get the Menopause and enjoy it".[13] In 2024, she joined podcaster Dr. Louise Newson on theHormones and Menopause: The Great Debate tour.[21][20]
Sue Collins is an Irish actress known for parts inFair City andRaw.[22] Since 2016, she has performed withDundalk stand-up Sinead Culbert as theDirtBirds writing, sketch comedy and podcasting duo.[23][24][25] She is married to actorPhelim Drew, with whom she has four children.[26]
David Benedict ofThe Independent described the group in 1999 as "daffy" with a "ludicrously varied musical style", attributing their success to "a cunning mixture of sternness and silliness".[29]Ian Shuttleworth ofThe FT, in 2000, described their turn of phrase as "gloriously daft", but that their material suited a "large club" rather than a "medium-sized theatre", but that the signs were there for bigger things.[30]
Lawrence Van Gelder, writing forThe New York Times in 2001, declared that "New Yorkers in need of laughter can be happy that the Nualas are here" and that, despite their tastelessness, their "wackily original songbook" was a sign of their "undeniable overall talent".[1]
