On Monday 18^th January, Abbey Theatre players visited our school, where they put on a performance of ‘Me, Mollser’ to a rapt audience of 5^th & 6^th class pupils. ‘Me, Mollser’ is based on the character of Mollser, a fifteen year old consumptive who appears in ‘The Plough and the Stars’ by Seán O’ Casey. The play introduced the pupils to Mollser, a strong willed young woman coping with consumption against the backdrop of the 1913 Lock- Out and the Easter Rising. The play proved to be a compelling, funny and poignant monologue performed by Susan, who was supported by Anthony, who helped run the post-show workshop. The play gave rise to post-show interactive discussion with the pupils on topics such as: children’s rights, Easter 1916, life in the tenements, and health and social welfare issues of 1916.

Inviting the Abbey Theatre players to our school is just one of the activities, which we here at Holy Family GNS, Askea are involved in as part of the Ireland 2016 commemorations.  The pupils really enjoyed the performance which will enrich their study of this period of our history.