The Queen responded by sending 18 'Articles of Interrogatory', a list of questions to be answered by her. These questions and her answers are preserved in the English State Papers and provide a very clear picture of how Grainne saw herself and the circumstances she was in.

Before there could be any reply from the Queen, Bingham arrested both her son and her brother. During late July, 1593, she herself sailed to London to petition the Queen. This was a very daring move. Few Irish chieftains would risk setting foot on English soil, especially those with as chequered reputations as Granuaile.

Tapestry-covered walls, carved oak wainscots and furniture, ceilings ornate with intricate plaster-work; the long corridors leading to the royal apartments humming with the subdued and modulated tones of courtiers, emissaries, petitioners and many fair and fragile court ladies in exquisite dress and shining jewels, powdered and coifed like tropical birds, flitting hither and thither trading the latest court gossip. And among this gathering, Grace O'Malley, leader of men, seawoman without equal, pirate, trader, self-appointed ruler contrary to law and tradition but too powerful to be dethroned, an elderly woman whose lined and weather-beaten face proclaimed the harsh conditions of her trade.

 

The Gráinne Mhaol - Directors Note

Theatre used to belong to the people, the community. Now it is rare to see large scale work with up to seventy people on stage. There is great strength in that experience.

The process has been exciting, energetic, chaotic and at times daunting. The energy and commitment throughout has been extraordinary from both the professional and the community cast. The process of rehearsing in a room with seventy performers is inspiring – the energy tangible – the amount of creativity sometimes difficult to harness.

The process has proved both challenging and exciting. Above all it has been enormous fun. We hope that the experience, for you, the audience will be as rewarding as it has been for us who were privileged to work on the project.

Kathi Leahy - July 2002

Media Reviews

New macnas show full of energy but running time could be shorter

Connacht Sentinel -

Ciaran Tierney - Da te: 16/0702

At this stage you probably know what to expect from a Macnas show. ..boundless! Energy, manic performances frantic drumming and dancing, and strong community involvement .. And their latest production of Grainne Mhaol' comes up with the goods again in those departments.

Indeed, this latest production by the Galway based company - which opened at the festival big top last night - is the first time in which they have attempted to combine professional actors with community performers in one indoor show.

And expectation was at a high level in the big marquee last night, particularly as this is the first festival in which the company are not organising a huge street parade through the centre of the city.

all carried out the role with aplomb. But in the interests of continuity and empathy, it would have made far more sense if one of them played the part of Grainne throughout the play.

This play is loosely based on the life of Grace O'Malley and brings us back to a west of Ireland in which the clan were still fighting among themselves while the British were beginning to exert themselves outside Galway

The sequence when Grainne gets to meet the queen of England is played wonderfully by Helen Gregg. With 70 performers or stage, though, the audience members find it hard to become too involved with the characters and macnas. Show veterans may tire of a format which includes over exuberant performances lots of running around, and little real development of the characters on stage.

Memories

I invite all participants and/or those who saw the show to enter their memories into this space. Photos of the show most welcome

e-mail me at :

grainne-show@excite.com

Jim Aherne