The Aran trilogy, of which this is the second play to be staged but the first to be written, came about through the chance that McDonagh's pinball creativity seems to generate. Inishmore fitted the bill. Three Aran islands prompted the idea of a trilogy. McDonagh's plots develop along similarly free-wheeling lines. He starts with an idea, then runs with it, not knowing exactly where it will take him.
Rewrites are rare.
I think storytelling is the biggest feature of all my plays. I wouldn't have characters just talking to each other. I like an audience wondering what's going to happen next. I like wondering what's going to happen next myself as I write. There's something thrilling about it.