Dráma nua as Gaeilge ag díriú ar an dteannas idir chainteoirí ó dhúchas agus foghlaimeoirí (Drame nouveau en langue gaélique réalisé par une chaîne de diffuseurs et de professeurs)

A new Irish-language play, adapted from George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, is set to explore tensions within the Irish-speaking community, focusing on the dynamic between native speakers from the Gaeltacht regions and younger urban speakers learning and advocating for the language. The production, by Belfast-based theatre company Aisling Ghéar, is scheduled to open in Cork in October 2025 after rehearsals begin in September. It marks a significant moment in Irish-language theatre, drawing inspiration from the classic play that later became the musical My Fair Lady. The adaptation reimagines the original storyline, setting it in Belfast's Irish-speaking community in 2026. In the plot, two professors attend an event at Belfast City Hall before encountering two teenagers outside attempting to create a TikTok video. They overhear the teens speaking Irish and mock the dialect they hear. One of the professors, Higgins, bets that he can train the girl in Irish pronunciation so effectively that attendees at the Oireachtas Festival, a major celebration of the Irish language, would believe she is related to renowned Donegal writer Seosamh Mac Grianna. Bríd Ó Gallchóir, director of Aisling Ghéar and producer of the play, described the casting process as highly competitive. Over 40 young actors from across Ireland, including Galway and Dublin, attended auditions. She noted that the project sparked interest among many, with participants receiving emails and multiple time slots to choose from for their auditions. Each candidate was required to read a passage and perform a song. Ó Gallchóir emphasized how impressed she was by the level of talent and enthusiasm shown by those who participated. The play has been in development for nearly a decade. Its original concept was created by Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, who was married to Ó Gallchóir until his passing in 2024. He began drafting the story and dialogue, laying the foundation for the current production. With support from a €400,000 grant awarded to Aisling Ghéar last year, the company secured funding from both the Arts Council and its Northern Irish counterpart to bring the play to life. This grant represents one of the largest ever allocated to an Irish-language theatre production. Nuala Ní Néill, a Belfast-based writer, was commissioned to complete the script. Her involvement underscores the local significance of the project, aligning with Aisling Ghéar’s mission to promote Irish-language theatre in urban settings. The production aims to highlight ongoing debates about language ownership and the evolving role of the Irish language in contemporary society. The play will feature a cast of nine, including the actor playing the lead role of Eilís, equivalent to Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. Rehearsals are set to start in September, with the first public performance planned for the Everyman Theatre in Cork in October. Following this, the production will tour across Ireland, bringing the reimagined Pygmalion to audiences nationwide. The themes explored in the play resonate deeply with current discussions surrounding language preservation and revitalization. By adapting a well-known narrative into an Irish-language context, the production seeks to provoke reflection on identity, cultural heritage, and the future of the Irish language in urban environments. As the curtain rises on this ambitious project, it promises to offer a fresh perspective on age-old questions about language, power, and belonging.