In Pictures: History meets art at very special evening in Donegal Castle

The setting of Donegal Castle made for a tangible connection to the O’Donnell Clan of the 1500 and 1600s as the play Red Hugh and Three Women was performed for an intimate audience. Click on the arrows to see Siobhan McNamara's photos:

Written by Alec Reid, the play was presented by Bosco Productions under the direction of Berni Canny.  Told through the eyes of three significant women in his life, it charts the life of Red Hugh O’Donnell from his kidnapping at the age of 15 to his untimely death in Vallilodid, Spain at the age of 29. 

Mayor of Donegal Town Anna Gallagher oversaw the atmospheric production. For audience members arriving, the scene was set by accomplished harpist Valerie Frewen. The play then took place in the main room in front of the stone fireplace, adding resonance to the cast’s words.

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Welcoming the audience and thanking everyone involved, the Mayor described the production as art meeting history within the ancient walls of Donegal Castle.

“If these stones could speak they would tell us that it means to be from Tír Chonaill, the music, the dance, the rise and fall of our language, the lilt of conversation, the roar of laughter, the whisper of prayers,” she said.

“They would speak of love found and love lost, of grief carried and hunger endured, of joy shared and winds withered, of births welcomed, and lives farewelled. 

“Within these walls for over five-and-a-half centuries, the whole spectrum of human life has unfolded  and tonight as we sit here in the town’s castle, breathing the same air, adding our own chapter to this living history. 

“Even during rehearsals there were lines that seemed to ring with echoes of long ago, and this play itself is like it was remembering past conversations.”

The cast were:
Iníon Dubh - Ciara Boyle
Aoife - Faye Gallagher
Queen Elizabeth - Emer McMullin
Aodh Rua - Christian Carbin
Hugh O’Neill - Seamus McHugh
Róise - Suzanne Thomas

Music was by Conor Gallagher, Nora Carr and Bree Hanna, with Evan Gallagher presenting a short prelude in the Irish language.