Kane O'Hara

Who was Kane O'Hara?

Kane O'Hara was an Irish playwright and musician.

O'Hara was born at Templehouse, Connaught, Ireland, the son of a squire from Sligo. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1757 he was a founder member of the Dublin Academy of Music.

His first publicly performed play was a burletta, Midas. Other burlettas by Kane included The Golden Pippin and Tom Thumb.

Kane also composed a variety of works including masques and oratorios.

In 1774, Kane established a theatre in Dublin called ' Mr. Punch's Patagonian Theatre ', which in 1776 transferred to London, producing puppet show versions of operas and burlettas. He went blind in 1781 but continued his interest in theatre until his death in Dublin the following year.