George Bernard Shaw’s controversial new play to be suppressed?
Dublin, 18 November 1915 - It is rumoured that George Bernard Shaw’s new play, ‘O’Flaherty, V.C.’, is to be suppressed. The play is intended for the Abbey Theatre in Dublin but its anti-war sentiment has led to it running foul of those attempting to promote recruitment in Ireland.
Mr. Shaw, defending the play, said that he ‘has no more desire to discourage recruiting in Ireland than the military authorities themselves’.
He continued: ‘As a matter of fact the play, which appeals strongly to the Irish man’s spirit of freedom and love of adventure, would, in my opinion, help recruiting rather than otherwise.’
[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]
