Remembering with pride the great Ben Hannigan , a local legend, soccer star and deep-sea docker.
Nov 21
Bloody Sunday 1920 – Remembered in song by Joe O’Grady / Paul O’Brien
This special video performance was premiered by the East Wall History Group to mark the centenary of Bloody Sunday – the tragic events at Croke Park on 21st November 1920. It is a true East Wall presentation being written , arranged and performed by three local men from different generations.
The song was written by East Wall man Joe O’Grady (1891- 1960) , a testimony to that terrible events. As a football player himself , and a loyal supporter of the local and county teams , he knew very many of those caught up in the British military outrage . He wrote this song to remember the day and those who died and were injured . The original lyrics have been adapted by his nephew Gerry Smullen and singer / songwriter Paul O’Brien .
Here are two versions of the song as originally composed by Joe O’Grady , this one being his ‘final’ version :
This one we believe to be an earlier draft he composed :
It is a real honour for us to have this song performed on the centenary of Bloody Sunday , particularly with so many of the players (and indeed the supporters) coming from the North Dock community. Joe O’Grady was a prolific songwriter , capturing many aspects of local life in his lyrics – not just the big issues of the day but the characters , the concerns and the humorous incidents of a proud working class community. And now, sixty years after his death these songs are a valuable contribution to our preserving of local history.
We are grateful for the family of Joe O’Grady for their generosity is sharing this treasure trove of material , and we look forward to working with them to further enhance the legacy of Joe and his work.
Contact : eastwallhistory@gmail.com
Nov 21
Bloody Sunday 1920 : Selection of local history articles .
The events of November 21st 1920 are among the most talked about from the Irish Revolutionary period. Remembered as ‘Bloody Sunday’, the day saw a total of 31 violent deaths in the city – 14 targets associated with British Military Intelligence , 14 shot dead when British forces opened fire at Croke Park and three men summarily executed in Dublin Castle that night.
To mark the centenary of these events , we are delighted to re-present this series of previously published articles of local interest. These cover the stories of some of those involved in the events of the early morning and afternoon, and based on research and interviews carried out by the East Wall History Group :
“Bloody Sunday 1920, the G.A.A. and “Stonewall” Jack O’Reilly”
The late Jack O’Reilly talks about his mother and father who were both present in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday and witnessed the bloodshed. His mother was a spectator , while his father was part of the Dublin team.
SEE LINK HERE : http://eastwallforall.ie/?p=727
“A FAMILY AT WAR WITH AN EMPIRE – Christy and ‘Dina’ Crothers of the Irish Citizen Army”
The story of a couple who met on active service after the Easter Rising. Christy served as an intelligence gatherer during the War of Independence and information he uncovered helped lead to the IRA operation on Bloody Sunday.
SEE LINK HERE : http://eastwallforall.ie/?p=2734
“Sean Hunter, Bloody Sunday and his tragic death in 1922″
Sean Hunter was the brother of ‘Dina’ Crother , a resident of Irvine Terrace. He took part in operations on Bloody Sunday , and would be killed in tragic circumstances just two years later .
SEE LINK HERE : http://eastwallforall.ie/?p=2542
“Bloody Sunday 1920, East Wall and the one who got away.”
The majority of operations targeting British Intelligence Officers on the morning of November 21st 1920 were successful. However, in one instance , the agent in question had moved from his lodgings in East Wall just the evening before. This is the story of “the one who got away”.
SEE LINK HERE : http://eastwallforall.ie/?p=2612
Bloody Sunday centenary: A wreath from the communities of East Wall and North Wall , in remembrance of those who died at the hands of Crown Forces on November 21st 1920.
Contact: eastwallhistory@gmail.com
Sep 18
“O’Casey in the estate – Ploughing on” / Culture Night 2020 (Available now)
This collection was created for Culture Night 2020. It can be watched as a playlist (above) , which will carry us through the life of Sean O’Casey from childhood through to his last farewell to Dublin. Each contribution can also be enjoyed separately (below) .
Join the cast members of the RTE documentary “O’Casey in the estate” as they perform a selection of Sean O’Casey pieces at iconic locations in the North Docklands … on the very streets the great playwright walked .
Our great cast of talented contributors :
Aaron Connolly
Alice Dunne
Anto Seery
Ciara Byrne
Derek Tynan
Diarmuid Callaghan
Kristen Foran
Nadine Foran
Ronan Morris
Richie Sweetman
Treasa Woods
Victor Ewubare.
And the man behind the camera , without whom it would not be possible Louis Maxwell .
“O’Casey in the estate” was a ShinAwil production.
Sep 18
“Docklands BY Docklanders” – Culture Night 2020 (Available now)
This collection was created for Culture Night 2020 . It can be watched as a playlist (above) , with the pieces appearing in chronological order , from the 18th century to modern day. Each individual contribution can also be enjoyed separately(see links below).
Enjoy a literary tour of the Dublin Docklands . Drawing on over two centuries of the written word , our fantastic line up of performers will introduce you to a rich history of memories & perceptions from the Port area and the surrounding communities. Readings will take place from recognizable and iconic locations throughout the Docklands.
Featuring :
Alice Dunne
Brendan Behan
Caitriona Ni Cassaithe
Colm Meehan
Daniel McDermott
Ellen Fleming
James Joyce
Kathleen Behan
Michael Ryan
Monica Horan
Paul Horan
Paula Meehan
Paddy Daly
Peter Sheridan
Roger Lamb
Roxanna Nic Liam
Sarah Atkinson
Scott Graham .
AND the man behind the camera Louis Maxwell
Sep 16
Culture Night 2020 : “Docklands BY Docklanders”
Join us on Culture Night for a virtual journey through time and space in the Dublin Docklands. Using extracts from previously published literature which span over two centuries, we will sample the rich tapestry of stories and characters that have given this area its unique flavour.
The carefully chosen selection of material range in time from the days of the Tall ships through to the modern glass & steel skyscrapers , with each piece reflecting on the memories and perceptions of the daily life of that era, much of it focussing on how it was seen through the eyes of young people.
A diverse cast of readers will bring each piece to life, and each will be presented from an iconic Dockland location.
(This event is in conjunction with the Short Stories & Tall Tales series , and is part of the Sean O’Casey Festival 2020)
.
Friday 18th September – From 4 pm
Available on Facebook, YOUTUBE and East Wall for All website.
We would like to thank Dublin Port Company for their support
Sep 16
Culture Night 2020: “O’Casey in the estate -Ploughing on ”
We all watched the two-part documentary “O’Casey in the Estate” on RTE back in July. It followed the plans to stage a production of ‘Plough and the Stars” using a non-professional cast. We all watched the emotional scenes and shared the shock & sadness as the once in a lifetime opportunity to step onto the Abbey Theatre stage was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But nothing can hold this cast back – The Sean O’Casey Festival 2020 is delighted to announce that cast members from the documentary will be united to celebrate Culture Night and you can all join them!
It will be an online trip through the streets where Sean O’Casey once walked – a tour through the North Docklands with the cast members reading a selection of extracts from the autobiographical writings of the great playwright.
It will be an opportunity to experience a perfect combination of evocative memoir, passionate performers and iconic locations, as we bring the words of one of Dublin Docklands most famous figures to life.
Friday 18th September – From 5pm
Available on Facebook, YOUTUBE and East Wall for All website.
Part of the Sean O’Casey Festival 2020
We would like to thank Dublin Port Company for their support
( “O’Casey in the estate” was a ShinAwiL production)
Sep 06
Sean O’Casey Festival 2020 – full programme available
“All the worlds a stage, and most of us are desperately unrehearsed”
So said Sean O’Casey, and there are no more appropriate words to describe this very strange year. But in the grand old theatrical tradition – the show must go on. This year’s annual festival will be very different of course, with COVID-19 restrictions meaning we cannot host events as we normally would. However, we have put together an exciting programme of online events (free and accessible to all) , and we will also include a unique in-theatre experience (though numbers participating will be extremely limited).
Friday 11th September @ 6pm until Monday 14th September
“When Hitchcock met O’Casey”
This acclaimed documentary, which premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival 2019, will be available to view (free of charge) for a limited period.
“It was a collaboration between one of Ireland’s most noted playwrights and cinema’s greatest directors, yet the 1930 release of Juno and the Paycock is often neglected in the repertoire of both men. Brian O’Flaherty’s documentary aims to find out why. Featuring extensive, incisive interviews with family members, academics, directors and actors, including Shivaun O’Casey, Prof Charles Barr, Neilí Conroy and Peter Sheridan, it tells the story of how these two iconic figures met and the legacy of the film.”
Screening on YOUTUBE , Facebook and on this page .
Tuesday 15th September @ 8pm
“The political writings of Sean O’Casey”
Sean O’Casey’s life is also the history of the early twentieth century, a period that was shaped by two great ideas, nationalism and socialism. History and politics are woven into the fabric of his life; he was a socialist, a humanist and a great writer who put politics at the centre of his work. He asserted the role of the writer as a transformative force in society. In this ZOOM presentation, Paul O’Brien will explore a lesser known side of O’Casey – his writings on the great political issues of his time.
Speaker: Paul O’ Brien is a writer and activist who has just completed a Political Biography of Sean O’Casey.
ZOOM link : https://dcu-ie.zoom.us/j/97010633258
Wednesday 16th, Thursday 17th and Friday 18th September @ 7.30pm
“Nannie’s Night Out”
By Sean O’Casey
Recorded by ANU PRODUCTIONS.
Set just two years after the establishment of the Free State, Nannie is just out of jail and she intends to have a good night on the streets of Dublin. But other people have their plans too.
In typical O’Casey style, this play is at times hilarious yet ultimately tragic. It was first performed, only once, in the Abbey Theatre in 1924. This audio performance was recorded by ANU PRODUCTIONS as part of ‘The Lost O’Casey’ in 2018.
Venue: Sean O’Casey Theatre
Tickets: 5 euro, available here:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/nannies-night-out-tickets-119415203087
Friday 18th September, from 5pm
“Docklands … by Docklanders”
Join us on Culture Night for a virtual journey through time and space in the Dublin Docklands. Using extracts from previously published literature which span over two centuries (right up to2020), we will sample the rich tapestry of stories and characters that have given this area its unique flavour.
The carefully chosen selection of material range in time from the days of the Tall ships through to the modern glass & steel skyscrapers , with each piece reflecting on the memories and perceptions of the daily life of that era, much of it focussing on how it was seen through the eyes of young people.
A diverse cast of readers will bring each piece to life, and each will be presented from an iconic Dockland location.
(This event is in conjunction with the Short Stories & Tall Tales series)
Available on Facebook, YOUTUBE and East Wall for All website.
Friday 18th September, from 7pm
“O’Casey in the Estate – PLOUGHING ON”
We all watched the two-part documentary “O’Casey in the Estate” on RTE back in July. It followed the plans to stage a production of ‘Plough and the Stars” using a non-professional cast. We all watched the emotional scenes and shared the shock & sadness as the once in a lifetime opportunity to step onto the Abbey Theatre stage was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But nothing can hold this cast back – The Sean O’Casey Festival 2020 is delighted to announce that cast members from the documentary will be united to celebrate Culture Night and you can all join them!
It will be an online trip through the streets where Sean O’Casey once walked – a tour through the North Docklands with the cast members reading a selection of extracts from the autobiographical writings of the great playwright.
It will be an opportunity to experience a perfect combination of evocative memoir, passionate performers and iconic locations, as we bring the words of one of Dublin Docklands most famous figures to life.
Available on Facebook, YOUTUBE and East Wall for All website.