Members of the public travelling west of An Spideál had quite a shock recently when a 1920s era Saracen truck, with a full complement of Black and Tans, was spotted speeding along the R336 at various times of the day.
It has also been reported that, on one of these journeys, the Tans stopped at a local pub, giving customers quite a surprise, and a lot of selfie opportunities.
No, Boris Johnson has not resurrected this notorious branch of British state terrorism in Ireland. These Tans are actually Galway actors who will be taking part in a large scale, open air, show, which promises to be one of the most ambitious of the 2021 Galway International Arts Festival.
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Morgan Cooke, Seamus Hughes, and Isaac Ó Cathasaigh as an IRA flying column in Cogadh na Saoirse.
The show is Cogadh na Saoirse from Fíbín sa Taibhdhearc. It will take place on Friday August 27, Saturday 28, and Sunday 29, and from Thursday September 2 to Sunday 5, at 9.30pm at the Fíbín HQ, Baile na hAbhann, Indreabhán, Connemara.
This outdoor, immersive theatre production, as part of the Galway International Arts Festival, will both ask and answer the question: ‘What was it like to live through the War of Independence, and the fight for freedom and self determination, which gave birth to the Irish State?’
Written and directed by Philip Doherty, the show follows Michael into the world of the flying columns, the Black and Tans, the big house, the country hall, the conflict itself, and the resulting Treaty negotiations in London.
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Cogadh na Saoirse cast members (LtoR ) Seamus Hughes, Rod Goodall, Siobhán O'Kelly, Morgan Cooke, and Isaac Ó Cathasaigh.
“This is a huge production and the roles are very challenging, both physically and psychologically,” said one of the actors who will be performing as a Black and Tan. “Every move and utterance we make has to be precise. You could say that everything in this play has to be done with military precision!
“We only have time to take short breaks. As we are in all the same scenes together, it is much easier for the actors playing the Black and Tans to stay in costume, jump into the truck and rush off to get a quick bit of lunch or a drink. Some of the looks and reactions we get while out amongst the public are quite colourful, but I think most people get a bit of craic out of it” .
Cogadh na Saoirse will be Fibín’s largest outdoor spectacle to date, involving a four-acre site; 14 stages; a cast of 70, including such well known Galway performers as Rod Goodall and Morgan Cooke; a seven-piece band, with musical direction by Julie Feeney; choreography by Catherine Young of CYD; and the Connemara landscape as a stunning backdrop.
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Siobhán O Kelly as a Cuman na mBán leader in Cogadh na Saoirse.
Expect vaudeville comedy, melodrama, silent movie, newsreels, puppeteering, drumming, traditional music and dance, opera, and the Irish language.
“This offers audiences an opportunity to experience what it was really like to live through the turbulent years of the War of Independence,” said a spokesperson for Fibín. “It brings you right into the heart of the action and offers fresh perspectives on the events that shaped our country.”
Cogadh na Saoirse will be performed in Irish, but still accessible to non-Irish speakers. For tickets go to https://www.giaf.ie/festival/event/cogadh-na-saoirse
