Martha O’Neill RIP
21 April 2025
Martha O'Neill.
It is with deep regret that we mourn the passing of Martha O’Neill, wife of Druid’s Artistic Director Garry Hynes.
Martha was a film and television producer and founder of the award-winning production company Wildfire Films whose work has been seen around the world via broadcasters such as RTÉ, TG4, Virgin Media Television, BBC, Channel 4 and PBS. Martha served on a number of boards including Screen Ireland, Screen Producers Ireland and the Irish Film Institute.
Wildfire Films also produced a series of films in collaboration with Druid: DruidSynge, the recordings of all six plays by J. M. Synge; Mighty Talk, a behind-the-scenes documentary about the production of DruidSynge; Playboys and Rebels, an exploration of the history of Synge’s work at the Abbey Theatre; and DruidShakespeare, another behind-the-scenes documentary about Druid’s ambitious production of Richard II, Henry IV (Parts 1 & 2) and Henry V.
The whole Druid company, including our Board of Directors and the Druid Ensemble, extend our sympathies to Garry and all of Martha’s family and friends at this time, and fondly recall our many meetings with Martha over the years, be it on a filming day or at an opening night.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.