Mary O'Malley
Encyclopedia
Mary O'Malley was an Irish theatre director, the founder of Belfast’s Lyric Players Theatre.
, Navan
, she attended the Abbey Theatre
. Later that year O’Malley would write and direct her first play, The Lost Princess.
After she had finished at Loreto Convent, Mary moved with her mother to live near Gerard in Dublin. In her spare time she would attend productions at the Abbey and Peacock theatres and quickly became immersed in Dublin’s social and theatrical scenes, becoming a key member of the New Theatre Group, and joining countless societies such as the Irish Society for Intellectual Freedom.
On 14 September 1947, Mary was married to Pearse O’Malley at University Church, Dublin.
In 1952, she ran for office as Irish Labour Party councillor for Smithfield, the only female in the running. On 21 May, she won.
In 1959, she founded Threshold literary magazine.
She started Belfast’s Lyric Players Theatre, in her barn. A self-taught and tireless director, she fought against a tide of cultural populism and indifference, in the north during the 50s, 60s and 70s to pioneer the new theatre. As their repertoire grew, O’Malley felt it necessary to provide a permanent theatre for the company, and in the 60s the Lyric Players Theatre became a non-profit association and in 1968, moved to Ridgeway Street.
In 1976, she retired in Wicklow
.
The Lyric Players Theatre archives are held at NUI Galway.
Life
At the age of thirteen, whilst stopping off in Dublin, on the way to begin her first year at Loreto ConventLoreto Convent
Loreto Convent is an all-girls secondary school located in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. It is located beside the Cathedral of St. Eunan and St Columba. It is one of nineteen Loreto Secondary Schools in Ireland.- History :...
, Navan
Navan
-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
, she attended the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
. Later that year O’Malley would write and direct her first play, The Lost Princess.
After she had finished at Loreto Convent, Mary moved with her mother to live near Gerard in Dublin. In her spare time she would attend productions at the Abbey and Peacock theatres and quickly became immersed in Dublin’s social and theatrical scenes, becoming a key member of the New Theatre Group, and joining countless societies such as the Irish Society for Intellectual Freedom.
On 14 September 1947, Mary was married to Pearse O’Malley at University Church, Dublin.
In 1952, she ran for office as Irish Labour Party councillor for Smithfield, the only female in the running. On 21 May, she won.
In 1959, she founded Threshold literary magazine.
She started Belfast’s Lyric Players Theatre, in her barn. A self-taught and tireless director, she fought against a tide of cultural populism and indifference, in the north during the 50s, 60s and 70s to pioneer the new theatre. As their repertoire grew, O’Malley felt it necessary to provide a permanent theatre for the company, and in the 60s the Lyric Players Theatre became a non-profit association and in 1968, moved to Ridgeway Street.
In 1976, she retired in Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
.
The Lyric Players Theatre archives are held at NUI Galway.