‘Magpies on the Pylon’ play set for Muintir na Tire Hall

Playwright and actor Michael Collins, will stage his one man play ‘Magpies on the Pylon’ in Muintir na Tire Hall on Saturday (4th May), in aid of the Moynalty Church Restoration Fund.

The writer, TV/film actor and Moynalty resident, is a member of the Irish Traveller community who has been an advocate of Traveller artists and cultural collaboration for over 30 years.

The theme of 'Magpies on the Pylon' is suicide awareness. Staged on the week before Darkness into Light, the committee will be providing information on suicide awareness and prevention on the night.

In the play ‘Magpies on the pylon’ Michael examines the sensitive and, some might say, taboo subject of suicide within the Traveller community. It is a cold and often harrowing portrayal of one man’s grief and misunderstanding.

It is set in a tiny bedroom belonging to Jim, a Traveller father who struggles to cope with the suicide of his 23-year-old son.

After his son’s death, Jim has become Isolated from other family members and is misusing alcohol. The audience accompanies Jim on an emotional roller-coaster ride as he articulates loving memories of his son, his fears for the well-being of his other three children, the turmoil that has developed in his relationship with his wife, his anger at God, and his agonising questions about whether there was something he could have done to prevent his son’s death.

Michael Collins has acted on stage in the Abby, Olympia Theatre’s and in the UK, USA and more recently Budapest. He played Johnny Connors in RTE’s Glenroe for over 10 years and has been in numerous films including Trojan Eddie and Man about Dog and most recently King Of The Travellers and Stalker.

His plays include 'It’s a cultural Thing Or Is It', 'Mobile', 'Worlds Apart Same Difference', 'Magpies on the Pylon', 'Father, Thinker, Solider' and ' Ireland shed a Tear.'