OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  Sinéad de Valera 

• Setting

  An t-am: An lá atá inniu ann (1930idí) An Áit: Aon áit in Éireann

• Synopsis

  When the widow Mrs Murphy dies, two greedy nieces of her husband's return from abroad in the effort to claim the old woman's riches for themselves. The selfish pair are unprepared for the conditions laid out for them in the will however: neither will get a penny from the estate if they do not go out in the village and perform a traditional Irish dance whilst dressed as countrymen. Horrified, the two snobs loudly announce their refusal to do so. The following day, however, in the midst of the May Day celebrations, they appear in the designated country garb and proceed to dance, squabble and make a show of themselves. Challenge met, they then learn to their disgust that the estate is not theirs for the taking after all, as word has just come that the young orphan Nóra Ní Néill is in fact the daughter of Mrs Murphy's long-lost beloved younger brother. Nóra is named as the legitimate heir to the Murphy estate, while the two greedy cousins are left a laughing stock.

• Play Type

  Plays General
  

  Number Of Acts

  Full-Length

Cast size

• Female

  6

• Total

  6

• Cast Notes

  Roinnt mioncarachtar eile: páistí agus cailíní scoile

Original Production

• Date of First Production

  16 January 1937

• Production Notes

  Léirithe ag Clochar na Trócaire, Baile an Bhóthair

• Original Venue

  Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach
  

• Venue Notes

  Léiríodh an dráma seo ar stáitse na Péacóige.

Source Of Information

Fuarthas an t-eolas seo ón leabhar 'Stair Dhrámaíocht na Gaeilge 1900-1970' le Pádraig Ó Siadhail agus ón leagan foilsithe den script.