Published: Wednesday, 10th March, 2010 5:00pm

Little Theatre to host play about forgotten Athlone soldier

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A new play focusing on the life-story of a little-known Athlone soldier called Michael Curley will be performed in Athlone's Little Theatre later this month.

The play, From the Shannon to the Somme, was written by Dublin native Neil Richardson, who now lives in Westmeath and is a member of the RDF (Reserve Defence Forces) in Athlone.

Michael Curley helped to form the first ever nationalist volunteer movement anywhere in Ireland - the Midlands Volunteer Force (which pre-dated the formation of the Irish Volunteers) - and then went on to fight in the trenches of the First World War. As Neil explains: "We should be learning about Michael Curley and the Midlands Volunteers Force at school. Most of us know about the setting up of the Irish Volunteers in the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin in November 1913 to defend Home Rule, but what very few people know is that Athlone had led the way several months earlier. The Midlands Volunteer Force were there first, and this is really significant, but for some reason, it has been completely forgotten about."

The play emerged from Neil's soon-to-be-published first book, a work of historical non-fiction about Irishmen from all counties and walks of life who fought in the First World War. Called A Coward If I Return, A Hero If I Fall: Stories of Irishmen in World War One.

Aside from researching in museums and archives for stories to include in his book, Neil also wrote articles in national and local newspapers asking the families of First World War soldiers to come forward and tell their stories.

Through this, Neil managed to gather information on previously unknown soldiers - men whose lives have never before been mentioned in a history book. Michael Curley was one of these men.

"I actually first heard the name Michael Curley," says Neil, "when his grandson, Mike Johnston, called me from his home in Australia. Mike had learned about my appeal online and had decided to get in touch. He told me all about his grandfather's time in the First World War, but there was no mention of him ever being involved in a nationalist movement."

"Then I mentioned the name Michael Curley to a friend of mine in the Reserves, Sean Malone, and he told me all about how a man named Michael Curley had helped to set up an organisation called the Midlands Volunteer Force (Sean is also related to Michael Curley - he's a great-great-nephew). At first, I didn't believe that Mike Johnston and Sean Malone could be taking about the same man, but when I did my research, I discovered that they were. After setting up the Midlands Volunteer Force, Michael Curley fought in some of the major battles of the First World War - Mons and Ypres in 1914; he served in Iraq in 1916; and then the Somme, Messines Ridge, and Ypres again in 1917."

In November 2009, Neil's first play, Through the Dark Clouds Shining, was performed in the Civic Theatre, Tallaght, Dublin, to full houses and standing ovations.

"The first half of the play was about Michael Curley and his time in the trenches," says Neil, "while the second half was based on the life of a fictional veteran soldier. But while the character for this second act was fictional, everything that happened to him was borrowed from the stories of real-life soldiers."

However, when Neil decided to bring the play to Athlone, he chose to re-work the play in order to make is solely about Michael Curley. "Now the play is about Curley's time before the war, and about his time in the trenches. It's historically quite accurate, but I don't want to scare anyone away who thinks that this might be a dreary history lesson. I've included plenty of comedy, and the play is character driven. It's primarily about the men and their personalities. For example, Curley's best friend throughout the play, Jack West - based on another real-life Athlone soldier of the same name - is a mischievous joker who's always getting Curley into trouble with his wife. The two then provide support for each other when they go to war."

When asked why he is drawn to writing about the First World War, Neil has this to say: "Well, my mother's family are from Athlone, and my great-grandfather, Martin Gaffey - who used to live on Griffith Street - fought in the First World War. So did a lot of my great-uncles. The Irish also played a very significant part in that war, one that is often underestimated and misunderstood."

200,000 men from the island of Ireland enlisted, with 300,000 more from other countries who were either Irish emigrants or of Irish stock. As many as 50,000 Irishmen were killed in the war, with many thousands more severely wounded and maimed. As for Athlone, at least 150 men from the town were killed in the war.

However, Neil believes that Michael Curley is certainly one of the most interesting of Athlone's First World War soldiers. "Aside from his involvement with the Midlands Volunteer Force," continues Neil, "which is more than enough to make Curley interesting, he allegedly did something terrible to survive during the first Battle of Ypres in late October 1914".

Curley was a retired army sergeant when the war broke out, but he was recalled for active service.

"By October 1914, he had already fought in several major battles, but at Ypres, men were driven to the limits of desperation. I don't want to give away anything that might spoil anyone's enjoyment of the play, but the second act is about Curley's return to Ypres three years later in 1917, only now he is haunted by what he did. This too is based on a true story."

From the Shannon to the Somme will be performed in the Athlone Little Theatre on Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27.

Booking is advised to avoid disappointment and you can contact the theatre on 09064 74324. Tickets are €12 and doors open at 8pm. Visit www.shannontosomme.com for more information.