Murphy’s Lore

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Tom Murphy, in the Abbey rehearsal room on the first day of rehearsals for the  production of his play ‘The House’ in 2000

“The importance of Tom Murphy’s contribution to Irish theatre is immeasurable and outstanding. We have had no greater use of language for the stage than in the body of work produced by Tom Murphy since his earliest work in the 1960s.

His themes were not only those which had influenced the very essence of Irishness, immigration, famine and loss – they were universal in their reach.

From the early beginnings of his writings in Tuam, Tom Murphy produced a unique and often provocative body of work. He was above all the great playwright of the emigrant, more than anyone capturing, in a poignant, creative way, the transience that is at the heart of the emigrant experience.”

President Michael D Higgins this morning.

Award-winning playwright Tom Murphy dies, aged 83 (RTÉ)

Leon Farrell/Rollingnews

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13 thoughts on “Murphy’s Lore

    1. Brother Barnabas

      Abbey 2001ish? awfully directed by ben barnes, though

      i’d put the Sanctuary Lamp up there with it, part of the murphy season that abbey did that year as part of dublin theatre festival

      Sanctuary Lamp especially poignant now

      1. rotide

        No, it was a much earlier production than that. I want to say late 80’s early 90s?

        I’ve never seen the Sanctuary Lamp, Must have a look next time its running.

        1. Lilly

          Did you see the Druid production at the Galway arts festival circa 2009? I was sickened to have missed it. Sold out in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.

  1. Harry Molloy

    I love Conversations of a Homecoming.

    Captures the rural pubs I visit with my Dad perfectly. Loud bursts of laughter, long silences, people saying nothing but saying everything.
    it’s the Irish psyche, witty and social and quietly mournful.

    1. Lilly

      It definitely influenced The Weir. Did anyone see Tom Murphy in the documentary about Ivor Browne? I had mixed feelings about seeing such a powerful, sharp, charismatic man feebled by age. It will happen to us all of course but it was difficult to watch. I’m not sure, had I been in Alan Gilsenan’s shoes, that I would have included it.

      1. Harry Molloy

        Saw the Weir a few years back and completely agree, I have to think hard to separate them actually

  2. bisted

    …and don’t forget that other great contribution to the arts…when he poured a plate of lamb korma over Michael Colgan…

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