Voices of the dead come alive
Three Cork men are to feature in a unique play paying tribute to the 14 people killed in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday in 1920.
The play, entitled '14 Voices from the Bloodied Field', marks 100 years since 14 men, women and children were murdered by the RIC while attending a Gaelic football match during the Irish War of Independence.
Partnering with the GAA for the first time, Dublin’s Abbey Theatre commissioned 14 writers, 14 directors and 14 actors to deliver 14 one-minute monologues, to tell each victim’s story.
These stories, each centred around one of the victims of that violent day, will be filmed in Croke Park and streamed online on 20 November.
The victims were Jane Boyle, James Burke, Daniel Carroll, Michael Feery, Tom Hogan, Michael Hogan, James Matthews, Patrick O’Dowd, Jerome O’Leary, William (Perry) Robinson, Thomas Ryan, John William (Billy) Scott, James Teehan, and Joe Traynor.
Corkonians to feature in the production are actor Alex Murphy, director Tom Creed and writer Timmy Creed who together will give a voice to victim Tom Hogan who was just 19 years old when he was killed.
Tom and Timmy are originally from Cork city while Alex, best known for his role as Conor MacSweeney in 'The Young Offenders', hails from Rochestown.
Graham McLaren and Neil Murray, Directors of the Abbey Theatre said: “The world premiere of '14 Voices from the Bloodied Field' sees two of Ireland’s leading institutions coming together to mark a tragic moment in Ireland’s history. When we conceived of this project, our aim was to honour these 14 people, with a historic partnership with the GAA. Theatre has always provided Ireland with a place to reflect and process. We invite audiences in Ireland and abroad to join us as we pay tribute to those who lost their lives 100 years ago.”
GAA President John Horan added: “From the outset, our work around the commemoration of this hugely significant event in Irish and GAA history has been to put people first. Our goal at all times has been to remember and pay respect to the people who went to a match and tragically never came home.
“We are delighted that the Abbey have also shared that vision and have given it their full support. We look forward to seeing the fruits of their creative talents, with Croke Park no doubt providing a perfect stage for their performances.”
On 20 November, the eve of the centenary, at 7pm, this commemorative performance will be streamed on the Abbey Theatre’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitter channels, and on abbeytheatre.ie. It will be available to watch for 48 hours.