Máiréad Ní Ghráda – Biography

Born in Co. Clare in 1896, Máiréad Ní Ghráda was a playwright, broadcaster and teacher. She was a tireless promoter of the Irish language and wrote many educational texts, some of which are still widely used today including ‘Progress in Irish’.

Máiréad grew up in Kilmaley, a Breac Ghaeltacht, with Irish speaking parents. She won a university scholarship while attending the local Convent of Mercy School and received a BA in English, Irish and French and an MA in Irish from UCD. An active member of the Gaelic League and Cumann na mBán, she was imprisoned in 1920 for selling flags on behalf of Conradh na Ghaeilge on Grafton Street. After a short time teaching in St. Brendan’s private school, Glenageary, Co. Dublin, Máiréad was employed as organiser and later as secretary to Ernest Blythe in the first Dáil and during the Civil War. In 1923, she married Richard Kissane, a civic guard (Garda Síochána). They had two sons and settled in Ranelagh, Dublin. She was the first female announcer with 2RN (now Radió Éireann), engaged as Woman’s Organiser with the national radio station for many years, a job which involved programming for women and children.

VIDEO: Mairéad Ní Ghráda explains her role as a “Woman Organiser” and recalls the early days of drama production at 2RN  ©RTÉ

Máiréad wrote her first play in 1931 while teaching Irish in a domestic science college in Kilmacud. An Udhacht, a one act comedy based on ‘Gianni Schicchi’ by Puccini, was produced by Michéal Mac Liammóir at The Gate (1931). Her writing for theatre includes Mícheál, 1933 (adaptation of Michael, a story by Tolstoy), An Grádh agus an Garda (1937), Giolla an tSoluis(1945), Hansel & Gretel (1951), Lá Buí Bealtaine (1953), Úll glas Oíche Shamhna (1955), Ríte (1955), Súgán Sneachta (1959), Mac Uí Rudaí(1961) and Stailc Ocrais (1962). An Triail (1964) & On Trial (1965) and Breithiúnas (1968), although critical of Irish society at the time, were her greatest successes.

Máiréad Ní Ghráda died on 13 June 1971. Her enormous contribution to Irish language theatre includes 11 original plays – more than any other playwright in Irish.

SOURCES:

• Dictionary of Irish Biography – Courtesy of Éamon Ó Ciosáin
• Ainm.ie – Diarmuid Breathnach, Máire Ní Mhurchú
• Máiréad Ní Ghráda: Ceannródaí Drámaíochta, Siobhán Ní Bhrádaigh
• Comóradh Mháiréad Ní Ghráda, Courtesy of Clare County Libraries
• PLAYOGRAPHYIreland and Playography na Gaeilge
• RTÉ Archives

Production History

1960s

An Triail presented by Gael Linn/ An Club Drámaíochta, premiered to great acclaim at The Damer theatre during Dublin Theatre Festival, 1964. Caitlín Maude initially played the role of Máire but due to illness, was forced to step down and the part was taken over by Fionnula Flanagan. Praised by the Sunday Times theatre critic, Harold Hobson, the play succeeded in introducing Irish language drama to new audiences:
He comments on the packed house at the Damer and the high proportion of young people in the audience. Special praise is given to Co. Galway – born Caitlín Maude, who played an unmarried mother, and to producer Tomás Mac Anna. (Irish Newspaper Archives, Irish Press, 04.12.1964)

An Triail premiered alongside Eugene McCabe’s King of the Castle and Brian Friel’s Philadelphia, Here I Come! in the 1964 festival and Máiréad has been praised for “the same willingness to tackle hitherto taboo subjects evident in English-language counterparts.” (Christopher Morash, A History of Irish Theatre 1601-2000 p.228)

Shortly after the first production the play was translated into English by the author. It again featured Fionnuala Flanagan in the leading role. On Trial was produced by Phyllis Ryan (Gemini Productions) at The Eblana theatre in March 1965:
An agreement was reached yesterday between Máiréad Ní Ghráda and Phyllis Ryan when the author assured Miss Ryan that she would present her with a translated script shortly. Miss Ryan said that she would stage the play shortly after Christmas (…) “I shall, if possible, have the same director who staged it in the Damer Hall”, she said. “Tomás Mac Anna did a wonderful job on that small stage and I shall ask him to handle the English version. I consider this play so good, and so timely, that the language barrier, though it’s being slowly surmounted by many eager people now, should not prevent all the public from having an opportunity of seeing it. It is a moving play, intensely human, at time heart-rending. It must be seen again. Having read a report of it in the Irish Times, I went to the Damer. The theme transcended the language of which I knew too little. Do you know that that play has set me learning Irish?”  (Irish Times, 03.10.964)

An Triail was filmed for RTÉ in a production by Michael Garvey and was entered into the 1965 Berlin Television Festival:
(Máiréad Ní Ghráda) leaves Dublin by air on June 17 for Berlin where the festival is being held June 18-23. “The play has done astonishingly well here in Ireland but in the television festival it is going to have stiff competition from other European countries”, she said. The English version meanwhile continues to pack the Eblana every night and no date has yet been fixed as to when it will finish. (Irish Press, 24.05.1965, Irish Newspaper Archives)

In 1965, Fionnula Flanagan won a Jacob’s TV Award for her portrayal of Máire in the television version.

In 1968, Taibhdearc na Gaillimhe staged An Triail in Galway and subsequently toured to the Peacock Theatre, Dublin. The cast featured Síle Ní Chonaill as Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Máire Stafford as Bean Uí Chathasaigh. Full production details can be viewed here.
Speaking at the reception afterwards in The Abbey for the cast and guests, Máiréad Ní Ghráda congratulated the cast and especially director Frank Bailey for an excellent production of the play, and said she could not ask for better. (“Taibhdhearc Players Feted in Dublin”, Cartlann na Taibhdhearca)*.

1970s

On Trial, produced by Gemini, was praised as the “festival finest offering” in Limerick’s Festival of Irish Theatre, 1970. It featured Dearbhla Molloy as Maura Cassidy, next to Maureen Toal, Anna Manahan, Arthur O’Sullivan, Geoffrey Golden and Helen Robinson:
There have been many fine productions in the Festival of Irish Theatre currently being staged at the City Theatre, but this week’s presentation of Máiréad Ní Ghráda’s “On Triail” offers the best in theatrical entertainment, and is drawing capacity audiences. (Limerick Leader, 15.08.1970)

1990s

An extract from On Trial was read as part of Glasshouse Productions’ festival, Acts and React: a Festival of Drama & Dialogue – There are no Women Playwrights 2, in 1994. The extract was compiled by Caroline Williams, directed by Katy Hayes and performed by Sian Quill, Clare Dowling and Eugene O’Brien

In 1998, Amharclann de hÍde staged An Triail in The Crypt, Dublin Castle. Directed by the Artistic Director Bríd Ó Gallchoir and featuring Lesley Conroy, Ann Marie Horan, Brid McCarthy, Darach Mac Con Iomaire, Niall O Sioradáin and Seán O Tarpaigh, it toured to five regional venues in 1999:

The play caused a lot of controversy when it premiered at the Damer Theatre in September, 1964, as part of Dublin Theatre Festival. Thirty-five years later, the dilemmas faced by Máire in An Triail still resonate for contemporary Irish society.Amharclann de hÍde’s production present a minimalist set and an aesthetic inspired by expressionism and the work of Tadeusz Kantor. Director Bríd O Gallchoir imbues this political drama with a 1930s ambience of film noir to highlight, in a stark stylised way, the issues at the core of the play. (Southern Star 17.04.1999)

2000s

Since 2004, Aisling Ghéar have toured the country with numerous stage productions of An Triail. To date, their various productions, catering specifically for secondary school audiences, have been directed by Niall Ó Sioradáin, Bairbre Ní Chaoimh, Joan Sheehy, Seamús Ó Aodha and Bríd Ó Gallchoir. Some of the actors who have worked with Aisling Ghéar on An Triail include Nuala Ní Neill, Cillian Ó Donnachadh, John Burke, Noni Stapleton, Tony Devlin, Norette Leahy, Bríd McCarthy, Mary Louise McCarthy, Cillian Ó Gairbhi, Malachy McKenna, Donal Mac Giolla Chóill, Gina Costigan, JD Kelleher, Myles Breen, Dorothy Cotter, Domhnall O Dongohue, Bairbre Ní Chaoimh, Michael Wallace, Kelly Shatter, Rossa Sheridan, Liz Fitzgibbon, Jamie Hallahan, Mary Ryan, Piaras Donnelly, Susie Lamb, Mary Conroy, Tim Creed, Shaun Dunne, Lesley Conroy, Bríd Ó Gallchoir and Karen Ardiff.

Fíbín have been touring An Triail almost every year since 2007. Their unique version of the play features four actors using a variety of puppets and masks to portray the numerous characters in the play. Production team included: Brendan Murray, Pete Nelson, John Comiskey, Sean O’ Cearbhuil, Pete Ray, Matthew Guinnane and Blánaid Ní Nuanáin. Cast included: Eoin Mac Diarmada, Ray Cudihay, Cliona De Brí, Bridin Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh and Clíona Ní Chiosáin.

“This play is significant because it has an urgent theme and is entitled to rank as the most important offering the Theatre Festival makes available. Just imagine for a moment the sequence of articles written by Michael Viney in the Irish Times recently, on what is known as illegitimacy, crystallised into a searing drama that challenges every aspect of the nation’s treatment of this social problem”. (L. Mac G. on 23 Sep 1964)

VIDEO: Mairéad Ní Ghráda talks about the inspiration for Máire

Mairéad Ní Ghráda talks to Aedín Ní Chaoimh about the inspiration for Máire in this radio interview from ‘Dá Bhfaighinn Mo Rogha’, broadcast on 29 March 1979.

An Triail was first produced on 22^nd September 1964, just 3 days after the final instalment of Michael Viney’s series of articles in the Irish Times, collectively titled No Birthright. This illustrated series was a critical investigation of the treatment of unmarried mothers in Ireland; the Irish girls who travelled to Britain and of the social structures which dealt with them and their children.

The first article titled “Clare and Danny” gives a candid description of a young girl’s journey to London to have her child.

Clare made only one preparation for the birth of her baby. She bought a pair of sterile scissors, which she carried about with her in case she gave birth in the street or on the bus.

After Danny was born, Clare went home to tell her mother. She acknowledges that “it didn’t take her long, I’m afraid, to think of what the neighbours would say,” indicating the general fear of public opinion under which many in her situation suffered.

Her final statement reveals the stark choices available to unmarried mothers at the time: Whatever happens, I’ll do anything to keep my baby. Anything short of prostitution – I’ve drawn the line there.

The second article titled “The Reckoning” discusses the number of unmarried women in Ireland compared with Europe (lower per capita) and the organisations that help them. The article includes a graph representing “Illegitimate Births in Ireland 1953-1963” which shows a high of around 1,350 in 1953 and a low of around 950 in 1959.

It opens with a statement by the author. Viney says: When I mentioned to an Irish prison doctor that I intended to write these articles, he warned: “If you go besmirching the name of Irish womanhood, you won’t be forgiven”.

He also quotes an Irish mother who said: Tell my daughter never to set foot in Ireland again and that she has disgraced her family and her country – belying the peculiarly politicised perspective of Irish people towards unmarried women.

The next day brought “The Secret Service” which discusses the Homes for Unmarried Mothers around the country and the lengths to which they go to maintain the secrecy of the women’s identities.

Perhaps the one really distressing aspect of these secret-service homes is that Irish society should have made such conspiracy necessary. Is there not something missing from a family relationship when a girl feels she cannot confide in either mother or father in this, the worst crisis of her life.

“Pregnant From Ireland” investiagtes the influx of girls arriving in the UK from Ireland to have their babies.

The initials “P.F.I.” are part of the everyday vocabulary of the social workers and almoners who help the unmarried mother in London and the major cities of north-west England.

Describing the fear of being sent home under which the girls suffer, Viney remarks: As a social worker in a Catholic welfare agency said: “What sort of society do you have in Ireland that puts the girls into this state?”

In “The Lonely City,” Viney reveals what life is like for Irish girls who travel to London to have their babies, the decisions they must make and the type of help available to them. This article includes a table from a report of the London County Council* which gives details of unmarried mothers seen by London moral welfare organisations during the year.

He explains that even for young Irish emigrants in London, fear of reactions “back home” to the birth of a baby outside marriage – or even its conception before the marriage date  – can lead to pathetic decisions. Three separate social workers quoted instances of young emigrant Irish couples who had become engaged in Britain, had then conceived a baby, and who were then so afraid of what their parents would say that they let the baby be born illegitimately and be adopted before they actually married and went on to have more children.

“The Chosen Children” describes the adoption process, detailing the changes that have occurred since the Adoption Act in 1952. It is a situation that favours the “perfect” baby (and the perfect baby girl at that) and leaves the less well-favoured child to linger in a nursery, or with foster parents, until someone takes him for their own.

The final article, “The Luck of Love”, details the variety of situations the illegitimate child might find themselves in from adoption by a family member, “A Family Affair,” to foster homes. Viney concludes as follows: The unmarried mother has the rest of her life to live. Her child’s has just begun. Should we not hate the sin, but love the sinner – and the sinned against?

MICHAEL VINEY has been writing for the Irish Times for half a century, with a parallel career in broadcasting, film-making and as natural history author.  In the 1960s he wrote about social issues such as No Birthright (book published by the Irish Times in 1964 as No Birthright: an inquiry) and the  fate of people in institutional care. In 1966, he won a Jacob’s Award for his RTÉ Television documentary, Too Many Children.
His Saturday Irish Times  “Another Life” column began in 1977, when he moved with his family from Dublin to settle on the Mayo coast. “Another Life” has developed from experiments in self-reliance to a deep concern with nature and ecology and is illustrated with his drawings and paintings.

*Report of the County Medical Officer of Health and Principal School Medical Officer.

We invited people who had worked with Máiréad Ní Ghráda and her texts, to share their memories of the author and the creative team involved in the premiere productions of An Triail / On Trial in 1964 and 1965.

Ray Yeates, Dublin City Arts Officer, on directing a play by Máiréad Ní Ghráda

Ray Yeates tells us about directing MAC UÍ RUDAÍ by Máiréad Ní Ghráda in 1983 (as part of Plays in Irish for school children in the Oscar Theatre).

Áine Ní Mhuirí and Máire Ní Ghráinne share their memories of “An Triail” and “On Trial”

Remembering the cast of the premiere productions in An Damer, 1964 and the Eblana in 1965.

Áine Ní Mhuirí and Máire Ní Ghráinne on Máiréad Ní Ghráda

Talking about Máiréad Ní Ghráda’s other plays, “Lá Buí Bealtaine” and the novel “Manannán” which is believed to have been the first ever science fiction novel written in Irish

Ray Yeates talks about Tomás Mac Anna

Ray Yeates talks about Tomás Mac Anna who directed the premiere productions of “An Triail” and “On Trial”

Creative Team

• Director | Stiúrthóir: Dearbhla Walsh
• Producer | Léiritheoir: Siobhán Bourke
• Stage Manager | Bainisteoir Léirithe: Kathryn Lennon
• Irish Language Adviser | Comhairleoir Teanga: Deirdre Davitt
• Playography na Gaeilge Adviser | Comhairleoir PnG: Nóra de Buiteléir

As part of the celebratory event, ITI is delighted to work with the award winning Director Dearbhla Walsh and the cast of nine outstanding Irish actors:

• Karen Ardiff
  Karen has worked with most of the leading Irish theatre companies. Theatre credits include: Peer Gynt (Rough Magic) (Best Supporting Actress, 2012 Irish Times Theatre awards), Threepenny Opera (Gate Theatre) and Love in the Title (Abbey Theatre) (ESB/Irish Times Best Actress Award). Film credits include: Noble (2014) and Brooklyn (2015).
• Denis Conway
  Denis has worked in most of the major theatres in Ireland. Theatre credits include: Liodán na hAbhann and Buille an Phíce (Amharclann de hÍde); Accidental Death of an Anarchist(tr.) (Aisling Ghéar); Rider’s to the Sea(tr.) (Peacock). For TG4:  Scúp 1 & 2, Trí Scéal and Boghaisíní. Denis previously appeared in An Triail for Amharclann de hÍde at The Crypt.
• Tim Creed
  Born in Cork, Tim Creed was picked out to play the leading role of Noel in the feature film My Brothers, in which he gave a compelling and inspirational performance. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Tim most recently wrapped shooting the role of Ned Daly for Abu Media/TG4 in 1916 Seachtar Anaithnid (in English and Irish) and a recurring role on Scúp for Stirling Television/ BBCNI/ TG4.
• Marcus Lamb
  Marcus appeared in Waiting for Godot (Gare St Lazare/Shanghai), The Second Coming (Fidget Feet/Mikel Murfi), Heartbreak House (Abbey), A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (New Theatre/ Jimmy Fay), ‘DruidSynge’, The Playboy of the Western World/ The Shadow of the Glen(Druid: Perth, Australia, Tokyo, Japan, US Tour 2008/UK Tour 2009), Marcus recently appeared as Des O’ Malley in Charlie on RTE.
• Clíona Ní Chiosáin
  Clíona played the lead character in the TG4 series Aifric directed by Paul Mercier. In 2013 she played the role of Máire in the Fíbín’s production of An Triail. She also played the lead role in Réiltín, a musical installation created, written and directed by Paul Mercier and produced by Fíbín. Clíona is the great granddaughter of Máiréad Ní Ghráda.
• Ionia Ní Chróinín
  Ionia is an actor and theatre-maker based in Galway. She is co-director of Moonfish Theatre, a bilingual theatre company creating theatre for all age groups. Most recently she was involved in Star of the Sea, Moonfish’s adaptation of the Joseph O’Connor novel, which premiered at The Galway International Arts Festival 2014.
• Tomás Ó Súilleabháin
  Tom has worked as an actor in TV and film for almost twenty years. Early on in his career he played Pádraig in an Irish Language production of An Triail that toured Ireland. Previous theatre credits include: Drive-by(Performance Corporation); Car Show (Corn Exchange) and Cúirt an Mheán Oíche (Peacock).
• Joan Sheehy
  Over the past thirty years Joan has appeared with all the leading Irish theatre companies and on film and TV. More recently she has directed some acclaimed productions in her native Limerick and created The Colleen Bawn Trials for Limerick City of Culture. She has performed in two productions of An Triail, directed it once and also recorded a radio version for RTÉ.
• Jonathan White
  Jonathan has been a professional actor for over 35 years. Recent theatre includes Anglo: the Musical, Richard II and The 24 Hour Plays. On TV, he’s been seen in Ripper Street, Titanic: Blood & Steel and Honeymoon For One and films include Noble, Traders and Love, Rosie.
• Dearbhla Walsh
  Dearbhla has over twenty years’ experience directing drama for the screen, most notably the multi-EMMY winning Charles Dickens’ Little Dorrit adapted by Andrew Davis, the IFTA winning The Silence for BBC and the multi BAFTA winning C4 series Shameless. Her most recent work was the much loved ROALD DAHL’s ESIO TROT starring Dame Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman. This is Dearbhla’s first time to work with the ITI & she is very proud to be associated with Mairead Ni Ghrada’s ON TRIAL / AN TRIAIL.

Post-reading panel discussion

Chair: Margaret Kelleher

Panel: Éamon Ó Ciosáin, Bríd Ó Gallchóir, Colin Murphy

Irish Theatre Institute is extremely grateful to our colleagues, friends, partners, supporters and collaborators who helped organise this event. It would not have been possible without:

Director Dearbhla Walsh and all the actors, Éamon Ó Ciosáin, Helen Ó Ciosáin, Caroline Williams, Caitríona Ní Mhurchú, Catríona Crowe, Anna Bale, Pádraig O Siadhail, Lelia Doolan, Máire Harris, Eilís Ní Bheilbigh, Domhnait Ní Thuama, Mary Clarke, Mairéad Delaney, Aideen Howard, Jessica Traynor, Seosamh Ó Murchú, Deirdre Davitt, Peter Crawley, Peter Beirne, Malachy Ó Néill, Colin Murphy, Margaret Kelleher, Ray Yeates, Máire Ní Ghráinne, Áine Ní Mhuirí, Bairbre Ní Chaoimh, Vicky Moran, Pearl Quinn; 

Fíbín – Ruth Gordon, Darach O Tuairisg, Aisling Ghéar – Bríd Ó Gallchóir, Catherine Glennon. Dublin Theatre Festival – Aoife Lucey; 

Bureau of Military History, Gael Linn, An Gúm, Clare Co. Library, Ainm.ie, Abbey Archives, Dictionary of Irish Biography, Irish Times, RTÉ Archives, RTÉ Stills Library, First Call Management, Lisa Richards Agency, Seachtain na Gaeilge, Project Arts Centre.

Thank you.