The Nationalist, 25 May 1904

These days the local newspapers are generally very supportive of the efforts of the local dramatic societies, regardless of the quality of fare they put on. “Grease” brought the house down, “The Shadow of a Gunman” captured perfectly the political climate of 1920s Dublin and “Arsenic and Old Lace” provided the enthusiastic audience with dark belly-laughs that came often and close together. Everyone put on a great show and all the punters went home happy. That type of thing. The Nationalist of May 1904, however, wasn’t so forgiving. As the tide of Gaelicisation began to rapidly rise the reviewer was demanding something more of the thespians of Tipperary Town, something that would do justice to “the finest, the bravest and the most brilliant race in the civilised world”.