Dublin, December 9, 2020
The Morrigan radio drama celebrates the centenary of the adventures of poet and Irish mythologist, Ella Young and her friends Maud Gonne and Countess Markievicz through the Easter Rising, the War of Independence from the British Empire, and the ensuing Civil War.

Ella Young is haunted by visions of Macha, the Celtic goddess of war, death and fertility. Yet despite being plagued by omens of destruction, Ella becomes deeply involved in Irish Independence.

The Morrigan reveals Ella Young’s battle for the soul of a country she loves that may not love her back.

The Cast includes several accomplished actors. Clelia Murphy (Fair City) takes on the triple role of voicing Ella Young, Ella’s Memoir, and the goddess Macha. Serena Brabazon plays the iconic Maud Gonne, and Madi O’Carroll plays the venerable Countess Markievicz. Alf McCarthy is W.B. Yeats, Paul Nugent plays the poet ‘AE’, and Rónán Byrne is Pádraig Pearse and the Seanchaí, while Donal Gallery plays Robert (Ella’s rebel antagonist).

The Morrigan is directed by Emmy-award winning director, Marissa Aroy (Sikhs in America). The radio play is written by Daniel Brennan adapted from a script originally created for film. Executive Producer, Tony Phillips brought the story from Dorothea McDowell to Daniel Brennan several years ago.

“Dorothea McDowell was a friend of my mother’s. After her divorce, she did Women’s Studies as a mature student at UCD where she discovered Ella Young the druid warrior. Ella became an obsession and ten years later she published Young’s definitive biography “Ella Young and Her World: Celtic Mythology, the Irish Revival and the Californian Avant-garde”. This radio play is based on Dorothea’s book and on Ella Young’s autobiography, published in 1945: “Flowering Dusk: Things Remembered Accurately and Inaccurately.”
said Phillips

“This is a story that reflects the spirit of our age. The world is falling apart and death seems to be everywhere. What will become of the world after this? Will there be a revolution or a regression?”
said Brennan

The Morrigan will have its debut radio broadcast on Wednesday, 16th of December at 3:00 PM on Dublin City FM 103.2.

The Morrigan Press Pack:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1X7eiZS9fqZf8wihmBEF5j5_6kV4BJw46?usp=sharing

Other Links:
https://www.dublincityfm.ie/shows/sound-vision-documentary-drama-hour/
https://www.amazon.com/Ella-Young-World-Dorothea-McDowell/dp/1537124986

Production: Daniel Brennan, Phone +353 (83) 840 1859, E-mail: danjpjlb@gmail.com
Exec Producer: Tony Phillips, Phone +353 (89) 966 0626, E-mail: projectallende@gmail.com

The Morrigan Cast

• Ella Young & Macha / Clelia Murphy
  
• Maud Gonne / Serena Brabazon
  
• Countess Markievicz / Madi O’ Carroll
  
• AE (George Russell) / Paul Nugent
  
• Robert / Donal Gallery
  
• William Butler Yeats / British Officer / Alf McCarthy
  
• Peader / Pádraig Pearse / Ronan P. Byrne
  

Sound Designer and Mix by: Paul Connor
Music provided by: Dowth

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