Name: The Plough and the Stars (1936)
Start: 2026-09-12T13:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-09-12T14:20:00+01:00
Location: Scoil Éinne

The Plough and the Stars (1936)

Féile John Ford is a unique cultural festival held in An Spidéal, Co. Galway, celebrating one of Hollywood’s greatest directors. The festival runs from Friday, 5th to Sunday, 7th September. This three-day festival brings his legacy home, honouring him through film screenings, talks, and a special exhibition.

Féile John Ford

Directed by John Ford, based on the play by Seán O’Casey. 
Followed by a discussion with Prof. Adrian Frazier.

Scoil Éinne

Féile John Ford 2026

Féile John Ford returns to An Spidéal, Co. Galway, from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September, to pay tribute to one of Hollywood’s most influential directors, John Ford, and celebrate his connection to the West of Ireland and Cois Fharraige.

John Ford's adaptation of Sean O'Casey's landmark play The Plough and the Stars (1926) was both a continuation of his interest in Irish literary sources and a further exploration of the political and social divisions that shaped modern Ireland. It was not however a commercial or critical success. Set against the backdrop of the 1916 Easter Rising, the film centres on Jack Clitheroe (Preston Foster), his wife Nora (Barbara Stanwyck), the Covey (Barry Fitzgerald), and the colourful ensemble of tenement dwellers whose lives are irrevocably altered by the Rising. While retaining much of O'Casey's dialogue and characterisation, Ford shifts the emphasis from the play's sharp political satire and critique of militant nationalism toward a more sentimental and humanistic account of communal suffering, sacrifice, and national reconciliation. The screening will be followed by a discussion about the adaptation and John Ford’s relationship with the Abbey Theatre during the 1930s with Adrian Frazier [author of Hollywood Irish: John Ford, Abbey Actors, and the Irish Revival in Hollywood (2011)].

The Plough and the Stars (1936)

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The Plough and the Stars (1936)

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