David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, along with other Members, attended the opening night of "Sive" in the Abbey Theatre and it is appropriate that we congratulate our colleague, Senator Fiach Mac Conghaíl, on a magnificent production. This was the Abbey Theatre at its best; it was electrifying. There was no doubt it was world class. I had to laugh inwardly because many commentators and critics were moderate in their praise when John B. Keane was alive and they rather looked down on him. This play is a masterpiece and there was no flaw in the Abbey Theatre production in respect of the lighting, Deputy, direction and the setting, for example, the way in which the cottage interior blended with the ruggedness of the mountain. There were laughs in it and the language was wonderful, as language from Kerry is always, but there was tragedy and drama with the two wonderful thinkers and the bodhrán. I saw the first production of the play in the Queen's Theatre, Dublin, many years ago when I was a teenager and I never thought it could be exceeded but this production has done so. I am not ashamed to say that the extraordinary moment at the end when the bodhrán was played softly almost as a lament brought tears to my eyes.

I was very glad that John B. Keane's family were there to see it. It was a triumph for our national theatre and should be celebrated as such. It analysed not just evil but its causes and misery. I would like Senator Mac Conghail to pass on our congratulations to all the actors, including his wife who was wonderful.