Anthology of Irish Plays
Brendan Behan (1923-64) found fame and notoriety with his work andRepublican sympathies. Christina Reid, from Belfast, came to prominencein the 1980s. Tom Murphy's many plays are collected into 5 volumes byMethuen Drama; his most recent play opened in Dublin in 2006. MartinMcDonagh's first play,The Beauty Queen of Leenane, was the 1996 winner of the George Devine Award and theEvening StandardAward for Most Promising Newcomer. Sebastian Barry is a poet, dramatistand novelist. Patrick Lonergan is professor of English at the NationalUniversity of Ireland.