To mark the 1798 Rebellion, Mullingar writer and historian Padraic O'Farrell has gone into rehearsal with a new play, Scullabogue '98, which will tour the country later in the year.
The idea for the play came to him while researching his book, The '98 Reader, published earlier this year by Lilliput Press.
"While researching the events, the songs, the stories, I was struck by the fact that in all the writings about the period there was no well-known work about the horrible event," he said.
"While most Irish people can belt out the song Boolavogue, few have ever heard of Scullabogue, where a large number of Protestants and some Catholics were massacred in a Wexford barn. The story literally jumped out at me because it was not the usual story from '98 and it was so strong, in fact, that I wrote the play in five days.
"Because of all that has happened in Ireland this year, especially in the North, I felt it was time to redress this imbalance and try and show its relevance to the happenings of today," he said.
"I have a feeling that the play will raise a few hackles and it will say unpopular things that some people will not want to hear, but I believe that they should be said, even now."
The play has five characters: Con Maguire, leader of the local United Irishmen; his girlfriend Meg Furlong; the local landlord, Gus King, and his wife and a servant girl from the area.
"Through the cast, the story will unfold and I hope the public will find it interesting and challenging," he said.
The play will be performed by the local Lyncairn Theatre group, of which Padraic was a founder member.
"The theatre group is probably the modern equivalent of the old fit-ups. It is a co-operative with full-time administration but a part-time cast. Six out of the nine people involved are extended family," he said.
"We even have a good sponsor. Toal Insurances Ltd, which operates here out of Mullingar, is sponsoring us this year for the second time.
"I suppose the other unique thing about this particular play is that one of the props we will be using will be a pike which was used in action at Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny, in 1798, which has been loaned to us for the run by the Barden family."
He said this was the fourth year in a row that Lyncairn Theatre has taken to the road. The last production that caught national attention was a play called Kitty, about Kitty Kiernan, Michael Collins's girlfriend.
He said that production had been well received by people not only in her native Longford, but also in the rest of the country where the play was performed.
The new play will be performed first in the Backstage Theatre in Longford from August 26th to 28th. It will move to Prosperous Theatre in Co Kildare, on September 12th.
The play will then move to the Town Hall Theatre in Galway city on September 13th, and will be performed in the Garage Theatre, Monaghan, on October 17th.
"These are the dates which are confirmed and we will also be playing in other venues. We are currently in rehearsal and we are hoping for a good reception in Longford," he said.