The Radio Éireann Players (RÉP) were a repertory company for radio in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

, formed in 1947, which performed in regular drama productions for Irish broadcaster,

Radio Éireann Radio is the technology of communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 3 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connected to ...

. After the depredations of the war-time years and a devastating fire in the

Abbey Theatre The Abbey Theatre (), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland () is a theatre in Dublin, Ireland. First opening to the public on 27 December 1904, and moved from its original building after a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the p ...

in 1951, the Radio Éireann Players' powerful weekly performances inspired interest in drama throughout the country. Their effect has been compared to an effort at national re-invention, in the same way that the national theatre fifty years earlier had been an attempt to redefine Irish identity.

History

Under Director Dr. T. J. Kiernan (husband of Delia Murphy, appointed 1935), Radio Éireann had already started broadcasting plays from the Abbey and Peacock theatres in Dublin and the Taibhdhearc in

Galway Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...

. Roibeard Ó Faracháin, a published poet, who set up the RÉP, became the first Radio Éireann Talks Officer in 1939 (his title changed to General Features Officer in 1945). In 1939 the station broadcast over 80 plays. During the Christmas holidays of 1942, Ó Faracháin drew up his plans to ensure the radio drama, as well as other radio activities, should be served by professionals. He also fostered Irish writers such as Kate O'Brien,

Edna O'Brien Josephine Edna O'Brien (15 December 1930 – 27 July 2024) was an Irish novelist, memoirist, playwright, poet and short-story writer. O'Brien's works often revolve around the inner feelings of women and their problems relating to men and soc ...

James Plunkett James Plunkett Kelly, or James Plunkett (21 May 1920 – 28 May 2003), was an Irish writer. He was educated at Synge Street CBS. Kelly grew up among the Dublin working class and they, along with the petty bourgeoisie and lower intelligentsi ...

and

Francis MacManus Francis MacManus (8 March 1909 – 27 November 1965) was an Irish novelist and broadcaster. Life and writings Born in Kilkenny, MacManus was educated in the local Christian Brothers school and later at St. Patrick's College, Dublin and Univers ...

, among many others. The formation of a full-time theatre company for a radio station was something new — no English-speaking country possessed one. Many questions were asked, including in the Dáil and Department of Finance, before the station won approval to establish the company. Micheál Ó hAodha became the company's first producer and Roibeárd Ó Faracháin with Ria Mooney of the Abbey recruited. All its members were from

, many being native Irish speakers.Maurice Gorham, 40 Years of Irish Broadcasting, Talbot Press, 1976

Founding actors

The founding actors (plus three who joined the following year) were: Tom Studley, George Greene,

Éamonn Kelly Éamonn Kelly (born 1968) is an Irish hurler who played as a full-forward for the Tipperary junior hurling team. Born in Puckane, County Tipperary, Kelly first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up ...

, Joe Lynch, Arthur O'Sullivan, Pegg Monahan, Laurence O'Dea, Frank O'Dwyer, Christine Spencer, Ginette Waddell, Marie Mulvey, Gerard Healey, Leo Leyden, Charles McCarthy, Deirdre O'Meara, Una Collins, Seamus Forde, Charles Davis, Ronald Ibbs, Florence Lynch, Mairín Ní Shuilleabháin, Joseph O'Dea, Christopher Casson, John Stephenson and Aiden Grennell. These "temporary, unestablished Civil Servants" started work at the studios on 18 August 1947.

Dramatists

Plays were written by writers such as Michael Farrell,

Padraic Fallon Padraic Fallon (3 January 1905 – 9 October 1974) was an Irish poet and playwright. Personal life Fallon was born and raised in Athenry, County Galway; his upbringing and his early impressions of the town and the surrounding landscape are ...

Benedict Kiely Benedict "Ben" Kiely (15 August 1919 – 9 February 2007) was an Irish writer and broadcaster from Omagh, County Tyrone. Early life Kiely was born near Dromore, County Tyrone and was a student at the Christian Brothers School in Omagh. In 1 ...

Frank O'Connor Frank O'Connor (born Michael Francis O'Donovan; 17 September 1903 – 10 March 1966) was an Irish author and translator. He wrote poetry (original and translations from Irish), dramatic works, memoirs, journalistic columns and features on as ...

and

Seán Ó Faoláin Seán Proinsias Ó Faoláin (27 February 1900 – 20 April 1991) was one of the most influential figures in 20th-century Irish culture. A short-story writer of international repute, he was also a leading commentator and critic. Biography Ó ...

. This was a convenient income for these writers during the hard economic times of the 1940s and 1950s and also provided them a large audience. Another contributor was

Brendan Behan Brendan Francis Aidan Behan (christened Francis Behan) ( ; ; 9 February 1923 – 20 March 1964) was an Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, playwright, and Irish Republican, an activist who wrote in both English and Irish. His widely ackno ...

, who made his debut with two plays for radio. Between plays, the players acted in radio variety programmes and read pieces on the radio as necessary.

Prix Italia

In 1961, the players performed ''The Weaver's Grave''. Adapted and produced by Mícheál Ó hAodha, it was written by Galway author

Seamus O'Kelly Seumas O'Kelly (1881 – 14 November 1918) was an Irish journalist, fiction writer, and playwright. Born in Loughrea, County Galway, O'Kelly was educated locally and began his career as a journalist with the Cork newspaper ''Southern Star' ...

, and won the coveted

Prix Italia The Prix Italia is an international television, radio-broadcasting and web award. It was established in 1948 by RAI – Radiotelevisione Italiana (in 1948, RAI had the denomination RAI – Radio Audizioni Italiane) in Capri and is honoured with th ...

for Radio Drama. The cast was: Frank Dwyer (story-teller), Eamon Kelly (nailmaker), Thomas Studley (stone-breaker), Pegg Monahan (weaver's widow),

Brendan Cauldwell Brendan Cauldwell (25 October 1922 – 12 January 2006) was an Irish radio, film and television actor. Early life and education Cauldwell was born in Fairview, Dublin. He was educated at O'Connell's Irish Christian Brothers School and went on ...

(grave digger), Henry Comerford (grave digger), Arthur O'Sullivan (cooper), Maura O'Sullivan (weaver's daughter). The players also won this award in 1965 with Dan Treston's "Piano in the River".

Jacob's Award

The players attracted international attention in 1982 when they broadcast an uninterrupted, unabridged, 30-hour dramatised performance of

James Joyce James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (born James Augusta Joyce; 2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941) was an Irish novelist, poet, and literary critic. He contributed to the modernist avant-garde movement and is regarded as one of the most influentia ...

's epic novel ''Ulysses'', to commemorate the centenary of the author's birth.''1982 Recordings''
RTÉ. Retrieved: 2010-09-12. The record-breaking marathon broadcast was carried by live relay internationally
Irish Times. Retrieved: 2010-09-12. and won a Jacob's Broadcasting Award, which were instituted in December 1962 as the First Irish Television Awards, in recognition of its achievement.

References

External links

Photograph of RTÉ Players recording ''Ulysses'' broadcast in 1982
{{DEFAULTSORT:Radio Eireann Players Irish stage actors Irish radio actors