In a mythical Irish village two hypocritical local worthies are overwhelmed with guilt by their attraction to the natural joys of life by strong-willed and seductive young women. Based around true events and laced with Irish, English and Scottish folk tales, wildly fanciful characters of mystical imagery; this madcap vision of mid-twentieth century Irish rural life symbolises the constant struggle between repression and liberty. First performed in the UK in 1949, it was very controversial and regarded anti-Catholic. Banned in Ireland and New York, it was not produced in O’Casey’s native country until 1977.