An Taibhdhearc and Brú Theatre announce their new co-production, NEILL | PÁIDÍN, premiering in Galway as part of Galway Theatre Festival at an Taibhdhearc from 1st-3rd and 7-10th May 2026. Read all about it below...
Based on the writings of Galway’s Pádraic Ó Conaire, NEILL | PÁIDÍN reimagines two of Ó Conaire’s works in a new theatrical production, featuring a stellar cast that includes Raymond Keane, Caitríona Ní Mhurchú, Maeve McGrath and Eoin Ó Dubhghaill with new original music by Anna Mullarkey and directed by James Riordan.
NEILL | PÁIDÍN continues Brú Theatre’s commitment to creating innovative, theatre performance rooted in language, place and story, while also reflecting An Taibhdhearc’s mission to develop and promote theatre through the Irish language. This collaboration marks a significant moment for both companies, bringing together Brú Theatre’s contemporary, visually-driven practice with An Taibhdhearc’s role as Ireland’s national Irish-language theatre.
above: Brú Theatre photographed by Anita Murphy
“This co-production with Brú theatre is a perfect example of what can be achieved when artistic vision and vital support unite to ensure ambitious, high-calibre work reaches our national stage. We are so excited for audiences to experience Brú’s newly imagined take on Ó Conaire’s classical text, beloved by so many for almost a century,” shares Muireann Kelly Artistic Director and Co-CEO An Taibhdhearc.
In Páidín: Mháire follows a young labourer whose life is irrevocably changed after an accident leaves him partially blind and unable to support his ageing parents. Forced into the harsh realities of poverty and the workhouse system, his physical decline is matched by a growing inner turmoil. As his sight and stability fade, he clings to memory, myth, and the pull of the sea. This haunting story explores resilience, dignity, and the human cost of survival in a brutal social landscape.
Neill follows a woman whose quiet, comfortable life becomes entangled with those around her—most notably a young scholar and his mother—unfolding a tense story of longing, morality, and repression. As Neill becomes obsessed by the past and what kind of life she could have had, she is drawn into a world of bitterness and regret which takes over her life and destroys those around her. The story builds toward a moment of irreversible consequence, shaped by desire, guilt and regret. It captures the fragility of human connection, the pull of the past and the memory of past lives.
James Riordan Artistic Director, Brú Theatre says, “I've loved Ó Conaire's Scothscéalta since school, the rich language, vivid imagery and beautifully drawn characters- people on the edges of society, complicated individuals with difficult decisions to make, have stayed with me through the years. The humanity of his creations radiates through the murky situations they inhabit. To be able to delve into two of my favourite stories in collaboration with An Taibhdhearc with an amazing team of actors and creatives is a joy, and I hope audiences who love him will enjoy our reimagining, and those who haven't come across this writer and his world before will fall for him just as I did years ago."
above: Caitríona Ní Mhurchú
Brú have created eight productions to date, touring nationally and internationally. The company recently won an Offie Award in London for Best Design for their production of Not a Word.
Secure your tickets to NEILL | PÁIDÍN on An Taibhdhearc's website or hit the link here for easy access. NEILL | PÁIDÍN will run as part of Galway Theatre Festival 2026 on May 1st to 3rd and 7-10th, at 8pm.
Main image of NEILL | PÁIDÍN, photographed by Anita Murphy.
