“We Have Him Back!” — A Powerful New Play Honouring Frank Stagg

We Have Him Back!

The 50th Anniversary of the death of Frank Stagg. Set in Leigue Cemetery Ballina –“ We have him back!” by Brían MacSuibhne Is an historically accurate account of the death after 62 days on hungerstrike and subsequent handling by the Irish government of Frank Stagg’ remains. Seven days after his death in February 1976 in Wakefield prison, his body was kidnapped and buried in an unmarked grave with a 24hr Garda presence for 18 months

With full permission from the Stagg family, this account discusses the true events of a brother’s love for another brother. A mother struggling to watch her son die on hungerstrike. A sister unable to understand why her brother would continue to fast. A wife unable to understand the lies being fabricated. A family trying to understand “Ghosting”, Strip searches and ill treatment. The barbaric use of Force-Feeding by the British prison service. But mainly about Franks brother, George Stagg and how he fulfilled his promise 22 months after his death to reinter him in the republican plot in Ballina Co. Mayo

This play is a heritage piece as the characters Bernard and Paddy intermingle conversations with the documented factual conversations and statements around Frank Stagg with world and national news/music charts/ fashion and accounts of 1970’s Mayo and Ireland all moulded into the play.

50 years ago they tried to bury this story and cover in concrete with censorship and lies. With a cast of 12 and a crew of 8. This story wants to be told across the island of Ireland. From Donegal to Belfast to Belmullet and Cork.

“We have him back!”

Seanchaí Iorrais- Erris Storytellers 

 

Written, Directed & Produced by

Brían M MacSuibhne