Help us stage a play about Paddy Armstrong’s Life
Donation protected
Thank for coming to this page! My name is Mary-Elaine Tynan and I am a writer, documentary maker and the biographer of Paddy Armstrong (of the Guildford Four) and now writer/ director of a new play, which I am fundraising for.
A little about the play
Entitled "Paddy - The Life and Times of Paddy Armstrong" it was written by me, Niamh Gleeson and Don Wycherley. It will star Don Wycherley as Paddy.
Fifty years after his wrongful conviction, at the age of 74, Paddy Armstrong is facing into his twilight years and wrestling with a thousand, turbulent memories. In "Paddy" he relives the turbulent journey that forever altered his destiny. Don Wycherley brings unflinching honesty, pathos and humour to his portrayal of Paddy, a man failed and scarred by a flawed system yet refusing to be defined by it.
"Paddy" is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of forgiveness, reminding us that the privilege of freedom and love, family and everyday life can restore us and mend the scars of even the most savage injustice.
Why do we need your support?
Staging a professional play is very expensive and almost impossible to do without funding, particularly in a very intimate theatre like The Viking Theatre, which has 65 seats. But it’s important to us to perform it in this venue as it’s Paddy’s local theatre and we want to bring his story to the local community
The play will run in the Viking Theatre Clontarf from 4th November 2024 for 3 weeks and we need to pay the crew involved a fair wage for their work (rehearsals and the 3 week run). Costs include
- Wages for the crew (director, stage manager, actor, designers and tech crew)
- costume/ lighting/ sound/ set design
- marketing incl posters, flyers
Unfortunately grants from the Arts Council and other bodies are very difficult to get (we've tried) and ticket sales will not cover this so we cannot do this without your support!
By donating anything you can afford, this will ensure Paddy’s powerful story gets to as many people as possible, and this miscarriage of justice is never forgotten.
Some background about Paddy
Paddy, who was one of four people falsely convicted of The Guildford Bombing in 1974, spent fifteen years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Anyone who has seen the film ‘In The Name of the Father’ knows the general story of the Guildford Four, although it mostly focuses on the story of the late Gerry Conlon.
A little background information about the writers (Niamh Gleeson and myself, Mary-Elaine Tynan and Don Wycherley).
Mary-Elaine Tynan is a best-selling author and award-winning radio documentary maker. Mary-Elaine has worked closely with Paddy Armstrong and his family for the past ten years, telling his story in the award-winning RTÉ Documentary on One production Small Lives and Great Reputations, before co-authoring his best-selling, critically-acclaimed memoir Life After Life, a Guildford Four memoir. She is a passionate storyteller and human rights activist.
Don Wycherley has been acting for more than thirty years and worked across film, television, and stage. He has captivated audiences with roles in iconic Irish productions such as Bachelor’s Walk, Ballykissangel, Father Ted and Sing Street and appeared in countless theatre productions, here and abroad such as The Lieutenant of Inishmore; The Seafarer and A Whistle in the Dark, to mention but a few. At The Viking he has directed Hooked by Gillian Grattan as well appearing in the critically acclaimed one-man shows After Sarah Miles and My Real Life. Wycherley has a proven ability to embody complex characters with authenticity and depth which has earned him many accolades and recognition over the years.
Praise for previous performances by Don Wycherley
“Don Wycherley turns in a bewitching performance” Sunday Independent
“Wycherley weaves a compelling spell” Sunday Business Post
Niamh Gleeson has worked as a screenwriter and playwright for over twenty years. From Clontarf, Niamh trained as a professional actor in the Gaiety School of Acting before turning her hand to writing. She is a regular episode-writer for Fair City and has written, directed and produced a number of plays including Dear Frankie, The Mariettas and The Telephone Exchange. Niamh was writer-in-residence for Marino CDETB for two decades, writing a children’s play each year for the graduating class to perform for North Inner City school. She has recently authored a children’s book I Remember.