I Would Walk These Fields Again
Based on the life of Canon James McDyer of Glencolmcille.
Donegal Bay and Bluestacks Festival in association with An Grianán Theatre
Written by Guy Le Jeune
Featuring John D Ruddy and Louise Conaghan
Father James McDyer was born in Glenties in 1910. Ordained in Maynooth, he spent ten years in London during the Second World War, tending to the needs of the emigrant Irish population. He returned to Ireland, spending four years on Tory Island before being sent to the parish of Glencolmcille in South-West Donegal, in 1951. From then until his death in 1987 he worked tirelessly against what he termed “the curse of emigration”.
He encouraged new enterprises, set up a cooperative, persuaded government ministers and their departments to support his ideas and inspired the community to help themselves, rather than rely on handouts from the State. In his own words, he described himself as a “Christian Communist”, taking his inspiration from the political turmoil and radical ideas of the early twentieth century. He was man of great energy, humour and conviction. Drawing from interviews, archive material and Father McDyer’s own writings, I Would Walk These Fields Again is a celebration of McDyer’s life, his work and his legacy.
Guy Le Jeune’s previous plays at An Grianán include On The Camel’s Hump and Fiesta.
Tour Dates
HALLA MUIRE, GLEANN CHOLM CILLE
Domhnach – Luan, 27ú -28ú, Meán Fomhair
Sunday-Monday, September 27-28
8.30pm Ticéidí €10/€8 Bookáil 071 9851375 nó Ag an Doras/At Door
COMMUNITY CENTRE, GLENTIES
Wednesday, September 30, 8.30pm
Tickets €10/€8 Booking 071 9851375 & At Door
ABBEY ARTS CENTRE, BALLYSHANNON
Thursday, October 1, 8.30pm
Tickets €10/€8 Booking 071 9851375 & At Door
AN GRIANÁN THEATRE, LETTERKENNY
Fri 2 Oct at 8pm
Tickets: €12/€10 Booking 074 912 0777
