Later this month the Central Bank will launch a commemorative Seán O’Casey coin to mark the centenary of the playwright’s most enduring work, The Plough and the Stars. But the purpose of such coins is “to celebrate figures of national importance and to commemorate significant events in Irish history”. O’Casey and the Abbey directors stood their ground in the face of accusations he was “making a mockery” of a revolutionary movement. The controversy in 1926 was a reminder that holding a mirror to your country can generate as much condemnation as gratitude. There is still work to be done to ensure the scheme provides the continuity and security artists need to thrive.

Source: The Irish Times March 10, 2026 22:16 UTC