Druid Theatre announces major revival of The Shaughraun by Dion Boucicault

Thursday 07 May 2026: Druid Theatre returns to The Shaughraun for the first time since 1982. Directed by Garry Hynes, The Shaughraun is the opening play of Druid’s 2026 season, Strange Country: Ireland in America. 

Written by Dion Boucicault in 1874, The Shaughraun captures a restless, divided Ireland. At its centre is Conn, the shaughraun—trickster, survivor, and unlikely hero. Moving between worlds, he outwits authority with wit, charm, and defiance. Comedy and spectacle intertwine with questions of land, loyalty, and identity.

Druid’s production will premiere at the Town Hall Theatre this July as part of Galway International Arts Festival 2026. Tickets go on sale Friday 8 May at 10am for this limited run and early booking is strongly advised. Tickets will be available from www.druid.ie and www.giaf.ie. 

Directed by Garry Hynes, with set design by Francis O’Connor, this production features a stellar cast including Druid ensemble members Aaron Monaghan, Marie Mullen, Rory Nolan, and Marty Rea, alongside Jamie Beamish, Megan Cusack, Peter Daly, Fintan Kinsella, Pattie Maguire, and Eileen Walsh, with live music composed and performed by Conor Linehan. 

The Shaughraun marks Druid’s return to the work of Dion Boucicault following their 2013-14 production of The Colleen Bawn, which earned rave reviews from critics: ‘Stupendous … Thrilling … the only decent thing you can do is relish it’ The Irish Examiner; ‘Garry Hynes and her superb cast...striking’ The Guardian. Druid Ensemble members who also make their return to Boucicault’s work include Aaron Monaghan, Marie Mullen, Rory Nolan and Marty Rea.

In addition to this summer’s production, there will be a talk with Garry Hynes and Francis O'Connor in conversation with Patrick Lonergan as part of Galway International Arts Festival’s First Thought Talks series. Director, Garry Hynes and Designer, Francis O’Connor reflect on a creative partnership that has shaped the visual and dramatic language of Druid Theatre Company for over three decades. They will also discuss Druid’s 2026 season — Strange Country: Ireland in America — and reveal the current of influence from Dion Boucicault to Eugene O’Neill. The talk will take place on Monday, 20 July at 2pm in the Bailey Allen Hall, University of Galway. Tickets available from giaf.ie.

Like all Druid productions, The Shaughraun will be produced in Galway, with costumes created at the company’s Nuns’ Island Costume Department and sets constructed in its Ballybane Set Workshop. Druid remains the only theatre company in Ireland with its own set workshop, preserving and developing theatre crafts. Druid is committed to its home in Galway, generating employment for local theatre professionals and creating entertainment for local audiences and tourists alike.

Garry Hynes, Director of The Shaughraun and Druid’s Artistic Director: ‘I love Dion Boucicault. Without him there would be no Synge, O’Casey or Oscar Wilde as we know them. I’m delighted to get back to The Shaughraun with these brilliant actors and look forward to sharing Boucicault’s work with our Galway International Arts Festival audiences.’

Paul Fahy, Galway International Arts Festival’s Artistic Director: ‘We’re delighted that Druid’s The Shaughraun will premiere at Galway International Arts Festival this July as part of their season, Strange Country: Ireland in America. Druid’s work at the Festival is always exceptional, and with Garry Hynes’ masterful direction, a superb cast, and a remarkable creative team, audiences can look forward to one of the major theatrical highlights of the year.’