As part of our Decade of Centenaries programme, we commissioned local writer/historian Kevin McGeough, author of Unsung Heroes: The War of Independence in Monaghan to write, direct and produce part two of radio play series ‘The Emergency’

Set during the Emergency/WWI it meanders back and forth to key events during the 1919-23 period, with back stories to the characters, which involve some being active in the old IRA in 1919-21 and still looking for a pension, to women in Cumann na mBan who are getting no recognition from the state. One character's father was killed in the War of Independence while other characters had an adventurous time in New York that produced all sorts of rumours about gangsters and invasions. On that subject, there’s a link with the famous Hollywood director Orson Wells, who before going to Hollywood, produced, starred, and directed a radio play about an invasion of sorts that was mistaken for reality by a lot of New Yorkers in 1938. Towards the end of the play the gang mistakenly kidnap a home Guard member on the border, and this is a small tribute to the programme that partly inspired the plays i.e., Dads Army.

Adding humour and intrigue, this play deals with key historical events in a local yet international context but respectively dealing with this sensitive time in our history. Engaging with a host of local actors in County Monaghan who beautifully narrate the piece.

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