"The Bricklayer" charts the life’s work of writer Grace O’Malley’s Grandmother, Una, who was a poet, activist, and founder of the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. Una was the daughter of Kevin O’Higgins - Minister of Justice for the Irish Free State. His assassination, when Una was just six months old, triggered a life-long search for peace and reconciliation, through her tireless advocacy for communication through non-violence. Based on archive research and personal connections, Una’s story is a powerful reminder that, when teaching reconciliation, facing huge challenges and disagreements, sometimes hard work and commitment are not enough, you must be willing to reconcile with your own demons first. The play was presented as a rehearsed reading on September 8, 2024, at the Glencree Centre to mark its 50th anniversary. The play was performed by a cast of five of Ireland’s leading stage actors: Karen Ardiff, Caitríona Ní Mhurchú, Peter Hanly, Jane Brennan and Ronan Leahy. There are 10 characters in the play, but with doubling, it can be performed by a cast of five.

This phase of the project will get the piece to full production frame from the initial treatment.  It will provide a cultural and accessible engagement with the historic story of Glencree and its architecturally listed history. 

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.