REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE AT MOUNTJOY PRISON
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE AT MOUNTJOY PRISON FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF “THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD” ON 26TH MARCH
I would like say how grateful I am to the Governor, John Lonergan for inviting me to be with you this evening to see and enjoy and excellent performance of “The Playboy” – one of the most enduring of Synge’s plays. I would like to thank and pay a warm tribute to the marvellous cast for their performance and interpretation of the play, with help from professional actor, Síle O’Mahoney, and producer Nuala Reynolds. I’d also like to thank our hostess, Sara for her hospitality and courtesy.
The great thing about an evening like this is that there is something in it for everybody. For the excellent cast, it is an opportunity to showcase a talent that they clearly have, and perhaps a chance to open up new opportunities in the arts which they can continue to pursue. It is an opportunity to explore the world of theatre and the dramatic arts and is an experience that can only have downstream benefits – it can release hidden talents – undiscovered interests.
For the families of the cast who are here this evening, it is an opportunity to see their loved ones, perhaps in a new light – to see that prison life has great potential to let them unlearn and relearn – to show them new aspects to life – to help them change. It is an opportunity too to ‘network’ with members of the public, particularly those from the immediate locality – to hear their views on Mountjoy – perhaps to build links with people whom they have probably only passed in the street without contact as they came and went on prison visits.
For those who have joined us this evening and for those from the area around this imposing building, it is a chance to see Mountjoy in a new light – to get another perspective on an institution that dominates their landscape – to see and meet those who work and live here – to appreciate how the prisoners and their families cope with prison and prison life - to do all that in an atmosphere of warmth and hospitality with real people who have a life completely different to their own.
For all of us here this evening, it is an opportunity to make new links - to build bridges - with those whom we see but do not know.
I commend the Governor and staff at Mountjoy for making this possible – for your initiative in promoting an interest in the dramatic arts. I think you have the vision and commitment to make Mountjoy a place of new hope and new opportunity for so many – a place where people can get a chance to start again with fresh hopes and ideas.