Walter Macken: Lecture Series and Exhibition

"Walter Macken - Galway Playwright", an exhibition on the theatrical career of Walter Macken, will take place from 16th July - 26th August, looking at his early life, career in the Taibhdhearc, Abbey and elsewhere, as well as his writing of plays.

The venue is the foyer of the James Hardiman Library at NUI Galway, where the exhibition will run from the 16 July until the 26 August 2012. This period covers the Galway Arts Festival, Galway Races and the final week coincides with Heritage Week. The exhibition will include materials held at the Bergische University Wuppertal, Germany, as well as the Library's own holdings, including the Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe collection and Siobhan McKenna collection.

In parallel with the exhibition there will be a series of talks on Walter Macken’s life and writings for the theatre. These will take place in the exhibition area on Tuesdays at 19.30. The schedule is:

17 July: 'Dreams on Paper' by Ultan Macken. An account of the life and works of Walter Macken.

24 July: 'The Realistic World of Walter Macken' by Fr. Walter Macken. A view of some of the characters from his plays.

07 August: 'Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe' by Kieran Hoare (NUIG archivist). The Taibhdhearc focused on the Macken years, 1932-1937, 1939-1948.

14 August: 'Macken's Contribution to Irish Theatre' by James Reid. An open discussion ranging through Macken's 35 titles written for the theatre which includes his 21 completed plays.