Pull Down a Horseman – a play by Eugene McCabe
Photos here
The actors from the Play
8pm on Saturday, 14 May, 2016,
Upper Room, Mount Argus
A play by Eugene McCabe
Directed by Conor O’Malley
featuring:
Declan Brennan as Patrick Pearse
MJ Sullivan as James Connolly.
The secret meeting that agreed the date for the Easter 1916 Rising. The play depicts a private discussion between Pearse and Connolly during the three days of the meeting with the IRB in January 1916.
Declan Brennan as Patrick H Pearse
Pull Down a Horseman
The play is based on a secret meeting, between Patrick Pearse, James Connolly and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), which was held over three days from Wednesday 19 to Saturday 21 January 1916. Top of the agenda on the week of the meeting was a discussion about plans for the Rising and agreement on a date for it.
The play depicts a private discussion which Pearse and Connolly might have had during those three days. The outcome was that Connolly joined the IRB and committed the Citizen Army to join with the Volunteers; and a date was finally set for the Rising.
MJ Sullivan as James Connolly
The meeting has a basis in fact, with Connolly ‘invited’ (some say ‘kidnapped’) to join the most senior members of the IRB leadership, who wanted to convince him to join their efforts. The short one-act play is packed with historical detail, based on the writings and known views of the two men. Their arguments and ideas are pitched against each other in dramatic fashion.
While the play is based on historical research, no one knows for certain what happened at this meeting. However, as the two characters discuss, debate, argue and verbally joust with one another over whether and when to go ahead with the Rising, a fascinating insight into the two characters emerges. They were two very different people — intellectually well matched, but with very different political philosophies and perspectives.
Pull Down a Horseman was written by the Monaghan based playwright, Eugene McCabe for the 50th Anniversary of the Rising in 1966 and has endured to become a classic of Irish political theatre. For more about the play, its historical context and the people behind this production, visit www.dublinlyric.ie
> Admission is free but donations to Festival are welcome.
> The venue has limited capacity and admission will be on a first come, first served basis.
> With thanks to the Passionist Community of Mount Argus for the use of their facilities.
