Brompton Cemetery

‘I first became fascinated with Maire O’Neill when I saw her portrait by John Butler Yeats at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. I had just started studying in Dublin and I fell in love with the history around this great leading lady of the Irish stage. Then I read the novel Ghost Light by Joseph O’Connor, which looks at her relationship with the playwright J.M. Synge. It’s quite a tragic love story as Synge died so young, they had been engaged at the time of his death.

Maire originated the iconic role of Pegeen Mike in The Playboy of the Western World. W.B. Yeats devoted a section of his Nobel Prize lecture to Maire (alongside her sister, Sara), and yet, Maire’s impact and influence doesn’t seem to be well known. I find that so unfair.

When I moved to go to drama school in London, I started visiting Maire’s grave, always bringing flowers (to be an actor is to be superstitious) and always hoping that Maire would keep an eye on me. I like to think she does.’ – Ann Maria