An Triail

by Máiréad Ní Ghráda

Dráma le Máiréad Ní Ghráda is ea An Triail. Máire Ní Chathasaigh is ainm don phríomhcharachtar. Is máthair shingil í. Sa dráma, maraíonn sí a leanbh féin, Pádraigín. Ghlac an file Caitlín Maude páirt Mháire nuair a léiríodh an dráma seo den chéad uair in Amharclann Damer i mBaile Átha Cliath ar an 22 Meán Fómhair 1964. Ceann de na drámaí Gaeilge is cáiliúla atá ann.

Genres: Plays, Irish Literature, Fiction, Read For School, Classics, Mental Health, Ireland

100 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Máiréad Ní Ghráda (23 December 1896–13 June 1971, age 74), was an Irish poet, playwright, and broadcaster born in Kilmaley, Co. Clare.

Ní Ghráda's father James O'Grady was a farmer, local county councilor and a native speaker of Irish and it is thought it was from him Máiréad got her love for the Irish language.

Ní Ghráda was jailed in 1921 for selling republican flags, and later she became the secretary to the Cumann na nGaedhael TD Ernest Blythe

Ní Ghráda was a children's program compiler on the 1926 radio station 2RN which later became Radio Éireann later becoming the stations principal announcer in 1929, holding that position until 1935 when she became a part-time announcer.

During this period Ní Ghráda began to write radio and stage productions, her play Micheál even won an Abbey Theatre award in 1933.

Reviews

[niamh · Rating 3 out of 5]

and fuck pádraig!

[Sarah Mcgrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was inspired to read this after listening to a Motherfoclóir episode about the play that really peaked my interest. Not having studied Irish since 1998, I was afraid to read this in Irish, so I looked for an English translation which doesn't exist. Then this year, my new year's resolution was to brush up my Irish, and part of that involved reading Irish fiction. So here I am!
Written in 1964, this is a play that was ahead of it's time. The main character Máire, is an innocent girl who gets pregnant after falling for a man's plámásing. The story is told as a trial (of Máire?...) interspersed with flashbacks explaining what happened. It's an indictment of Irish society at the time where "what the neighbours think" was more important than treating people with compassion. The ending, in particular, would bring tears to a glass eye.

[Charlotte Wynne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Am I just a sick human being....or was it lowkey hilarious when your one was just like "oh this 50 year old man, twice my age, who got me pregnant when I was 15, actually doesn't care about me and lowkey forgot I existed??? Oh sod this, life is overrated anyway, imma yeet my baby into the oven and kill myself while I'm at it. Peace out🤪✌️." Not only was she infuriatingly stupid but she was also annoying asf. Not one character was even semi decent. This was trying too hard to be thought - provoking and devastating, but it’s more just the writer being like "ooh let's add more trauma to keep the story going into the direction I want it to" - nothing deep or meaningful in it whatsoever. Don’t get me wrong either, I love despicable characters, and the study of what it would’ve been like back in Ireland during this time, but I’ve read different things where it’s been mastered more cleverly with far more nuances and emotive language. Anyway if you're like me and have to study this for your Leaving Cert, all I can say is God love you.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scéal iontach atá i gceist!! Bhain mé an-suilt as an scéal a bhí ag Máire agus fuair mé léargas ar an saol a bhí ag mná ag an am sin. Ba dheireadh an scéal scríofa go han-mhaith chomh maith agus is aoibhinn liom an teachtaireacht. Cé go bhfuil sé brónach agus bhí sé beagáinín deacair dom, léifinn arís é!

Dara léamh: tuigim an scéal i bhfad níos fearr anois agus táim bródúil as! Baineann a lán leibhéal leis an scéal agus tá trua agam do chinniúint Mháire ag an deireadh

Tríú léamh: yes, léigh mé an dráma an lá roimh mo scrúdú

Ceathrú léamh

[Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín]

Is leabhar spéisiúil é seo. Scéal brónach is ea é, agus tugann sé léargas maith ar fhadhbanna a bhí ann do mhná óga a bhí ag iompar clainne sular athraigh an meon ina dtreo in Éirinn.

[Eimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

ermagad............. that ending though?

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tá an leabhar seo ar fheabhas!! Tá sé an-drámaíocht agus an-suímiúil!!

[erina sinani♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ní féidir a shéanadh ach go bhfuil an buacpointe sa scéal seo ar fheabhas ar fad

[Sinead · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a twist…. suaimhneas síoraí M dog

[Ren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this for Leaving Cert Irish and i’ll leave it at that.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inniu, smaoinigh mé gan aon chúis ar leith ar an dráma seo a léigh mé nuair a bhí mé sa mheánscoil, agus chinn mé é a léigh arís.

Scríobhadh an dráma seo sna seascaidí, ach is cosúil go raibh sé scríofa inniu.
Cuireann Mairéad Ní Ghráda dráma ionraic os ár gcomhair. Tá cuid mhór den scéal suite sa seomra cúirte. Baintear leas as na haturnaetha agus as an triail chúirte le dul i bhfeidhm orainne, an lucht féachana. Fágtar fuinn ár mbreith féin a thabhairt i Leith an chailín óig. Tarraingítear isteach sa dráma sin. Is finnéithe muid. Tá orainn breith a thabhairt ar an gcineál sochaí as a n-eascraíonn imeachtaí uafásacha an dráma. Tá práinn mhór ag baint lenár bpáirt féin ann.
Tugann an dearcadh míthrócaireach atá ag mhuntir Mháire ar a cás léargas éigin dúinn ar na huafáis a tharla i rith an ama sin. Tá sí ina chónaí i sochaí atá chomh cruachroíoch agus chomh cruálach sin, go n-éiríonn sí mídhaonna í féin, ionas nach gcaithfidh a hiníon fás suas i ndomhan mar sin.
“Ní bheidh sí ina hóinsín bhog ghéilliúil ag aon fhear. Tá sí saor.”
Is scéal tragóideach é a thugann pictiúr suarach ainnis dúinn don ghrá.

An laige is mó atá sa dráma seo, dar liom, ná easpa doimhneachta na gcarachtar ann. Ceapaim go bhfuil formhór na gcarachtar róshimplí, ró-‘dhubh agus bán’. Tóg Máire, mar shampla. Cailín óg soineanta neamhurchóideach í. Tosaíonn sí ag siúl amach le máistir scoile pósta i bparóiste beag faoin tuath. Creideann sí gach a ndeir sé. Ligeann sí dó cumhacht iomlán a fháil uirthi, idir anam agus chorp. Níl sí sásta a ainm a lua le haon duine, fiú nuair a thuigeann sí nach bhfuil ann ach duine gránna.

D'ainneoin na laige seo, bhain mé an-taitneamh as an scéal.
Ní pictiúr álainn rómánsach de thír na hÉireann a chuirtear os ár gcomhair, ach pictiúr gránna suarach, lán de chúngaigeantacht, de bhréagchráifeacht agus d’fhimínteacht.


IS: Tá go leor ama caite ó scríobh mé i nGaeilge, mar sin logh na botúin le do thoil.

[izzy ♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

maire wtf

[Doireann O'B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread this after liking it in school, it's still good

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I returned to this play that I had read in school and had a rather low opinion of at the time and found it to be far more interesting than I thought it would be. In a purely historical context it's a truly remarkable work for its time and the unflinching examination of attitudes in 1960s Ireland, and for that alone is worth a look. As a play in itself, it's not an outright masterpiece but it's not half bad either, and I'd definitely go to see it played if I ever have the chance; and as a modern work in the Irish language it certainly stands out.

[Sarah Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Pádraig Mac Cárthaigh has no haters, I am dead.

[dars]

if you're doing this for leaving cert, poetry & prós section is worth 30 marks in the exam. im not gonna bother learning it good luck lads H1s all around

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a mandatory read as part of my Leaving Cert, and it was worth all the study. The true brilliance of An triail is in analysing each wretched character.

This play forces you to reflect on the way Irish society has treated single mothers in the past. Maire is abandoned by everyone she knows in an attempt to protect their own Christian status; yet they all fail to show her any Christian charity.

Ní Ghráda was brave to shine a light over the hypocrisy of Irish society in the 60s , and I would serisoiky recommend everyone read about Maire’s tragedy

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

How Irish. This, cupla and caca milis is the epitome of our education system somehow, how grim can we make things. Eh it was fine, my Irish is funky but hearing our teacher have to translate stuff like whore is fun. Not excited for these essays thanks for that but in general the premise is interesting but controversial. I think they are all fools but I feel for her honestly and I do defend her, especially with the cultural context of the time. Definitely a commentary.

[harithaolag · Rating 3 out of 5]

As standard for a text on the Leaving Cert Irish course, I went into this with very low expectations, but was fortunately very surprised. This controversial play deals with a lot of feminist issues characteristic to 1960s Ireland. Very accessible - although I definitely didn't understand everything with my basic understanding of the language, I could still get the gist of the plot

[Athena✧･ﾟ: * · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this play for my Irish class and at first before getting into it I thought that I'm gonna hate it but it turned out the complete opposite.

I absolutely loved it. This play is so relatable in today's society. Máiréad Ní Ghráda was a woman ahead of her time by being a feminist in the 60s and bringing such a masterpiece on stage.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gan aon eolas faoin údar agus an t-am a scríobh sí an dráma, cheapfá gur dráma nua-aoiseach é seo. Is dráma feimineach é seo, le smaointí criticiúil faoi muintir na hÉireann, beagáinín cosúil le 'Valley of the Squinting Windows' le Brian MacNamara. Thaitin go mór liom an dráma seo ach chuir sé fearg agus náire orm, toisc gurb é sin an ghnáthrud in Éirinn fadó.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it for school. Was pretty good and really sad. Kinda confusing with the changes between court and events but it was ok. It’s probably better than I’m making it sound I’m just not the best at Irish ie. why I’m writing a review for an Irish book in English

[Dylan Boyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grim, unsparing, if somewhat slow.
1950s Ireland has never looked so bleak. The melodrama of An Triail doesn’t immediately leap off the page but it does succeed in capturing the grey cloud of shame and hypocrisy that hung over the country at the time.

[Tara Ní Dhubhghaill-Nualláin · Rating 4 out of 5]

drámaíocht faoi stair agus strachailt ar mná óg in Éireann

[Lucy]

ending genuinely upset me

[Méabh Ní · Rating 5 out of 5]

chomh spéisiúil agus brónach. beidh me ag smaoineamh ar an scéal seo ar feadh tamall fada.

[Alex :”) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🙏🙏🙏🚬

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I read an English translation (obviously))

[Orla Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just know Padraig would be an Andrew Tate stan. The head san oigheann was rough someone really could have warned me about that one

[teagan ✮]

nuair a feic mé pádraig…