The Irish Times – Monday, April 12, 2010
Disability activist to picket abuse play
PAUL CULLEN
AUTHOR AND disability rights campaigner Paddy Doyle has said he will picket the opening of a play this week about the Ryan report on child abuse because the venue is inaccessible to wheelchair users.
Mr Doyle has described as intolerable and abhorrent the decision to stage the series of plays about child abuse in the Peacock Theatre, which is in the basement of the Abbey theatre building and has no disabled persons’ access.
He says board members of the Abbey should explain how they can stand over the use of a venue that “clearly discriminates” against people who use wheelchairs.
“We are now in the year 2010. There are numerous ‘gadgets and gizmos’ that can be employed to ensure people with disabilities gain access to various buildings which are hundreds of years older than the Abbey.”
Mr Doyle says he is horrified that he may not be able to gain access to see the performances of his friends, journalist Mary Raftery and writer Mannix Flynn.
In a letter to Mr Doyle, Abbey director Fiach Mac Conghail expressed shame at the lack of disabled access. The issue was alienating people and was one of the reasons a new building was needed for the national theatre, he said.
To Ann.
On the same day you were writing here, I put my comments on the play in the “Bearing Communal Witness” post of April 10th. Did you see it? In any case, I hope that you saw Mannix Flynn’s ‘JAMES X’ – tonight being the last chance (8pm, free, at the Holiday Inn of Pearse Street, Dublin.). As I said before, I think it is the ONLY WAY to go and should be COMPULSORY VIEWING FOR THE NATION. ‘JAMES X’ is SO GOOD, that it will help BOTH Victims/Survivors, AND the rest of the Irish people, the DEAD MAJORITY.
Hi well I saw the play, and firstly its a terrible piece of so-called theatre, badly acted, just a direct transcript of the Ryan report, a document that was tainted and corrupt before the ink was even dry…Ask Judge Mary Laffoy, the play gives us no context just makes the Ryan Report out to be a great thing…No mention of why Judge Ryan was put in there, no mention of the indemnity, the Dept of Education blocking all investigation into them and whatever about the actors needing counselling the 700 or so people (audience) who were subjected to patronising dross should have been the ones offered counselling after it….As for the wheelchair issue, artists, actors and directors can no longer use this building, its out of bounds and illegal.
Hi Paddy,
Is no one here interested in No Escape itself – has anyone seen it? It’s a bit strange that there’s not a single comment about it – only about the access issue. I’m fully behind Paddy on this. But did no one go and see it in Liberty Hall, which was accessible? Does no one here care about the issues? I saw it and thought it was devastating, a complete condemnation of state and church and the system that caused so much savage abuse of children. Maybe other people didn’t like it, and maybe all people here care about is the access issue. Fair enough. But there are other issues too – and child abuse on such a huge scale is a pretty big one.
Anne C
Catherine, thanks so much for the very kind comments, I’m not at all sure I’m worthy of them but I accept them coming from you. Best wishes. Paddy.
Well done Paddy you are one special human being. Wishing you all the best. Eilish.
Your absolutely right David, the issue was about access for people with disabilities to the Abbey/Peacock. Having been sitting on the streets, other thoughts came to mind which need to be fleshed out. More of that anon. Paddy
Paddy if this happened here in UK there would be outrage and uproar!! I’m not yet a wheelchair user but even using a stick and trying to cope with stairs inter alia proves a challenge. I think there is certainly a more political stance about the use of the venue to stop wonderful caring activists like you from attending. If I could get to protest you would see me on the front line. Cada dia tienes la forza … Kate
I have to say that I’m feeling quite aghast at the attacks on Mary Raftery by some people on here. Let us not forget that without Mary Raftery we may very well be still mumbling to ourselves, and to anyone who would listen, about our abusive childhoods. Mary opened the flood gates of our very own Pandoras Boxes and allowed us the platform (via TV) to tell our stories. It must have pained her a great deal to hear the harrowing accounts of survivors but like a true professional (and one who was in the position – the right place at the right time)enabled our voices to be heard. Mary believed when others refused to believe. If she is considered to be a ‘mouthpiece’ on behalf of survivors then I welcome that. It is not Mary who is making money (lets make it simple) out of our suffering it was (is) the solicitors who rubbed their hands in glee once they recognised one case after another in preparation for the Redress Board.
I would also like to add that the title of the above article is a little misleading. The picket (or protest) is not against the play itself (correct me if I am wrong Paddy) but it is to highlight the issue of the non-accessability for wheelchair users into the Abbey or Peacock Theatre. And in this day and age that is a disgrace.
What an insult!!!… good for you Paddy..go for it!!!!!
Anne ;. )
Your posters are incredible Paddy, you are the artist. we know where the real DRAMA is going to be tonight, wrap ur warm and get the flasks ready.. Wishing I could be with you for the fight..
Well done Paddy you are a fighter man, I respect you Sir. Very best in this I’m sure you will succeed Paddy. A true survivor
One or two of the actors could be asked to come in a wheel chair, and then get themselves onto the stage with or without help Perhaps that would be worth showing.
What do you think?
If Mary Raftery is a “mouthpiece” then we need a few more of them. To take the “you weren’t there attitude” is just painting yourself into an isolated corner. That’s tantamount to wanting to be abandoned and marginalised.
The people who are the problem in Ireland are not those like Mary Raftery. The problem is all those who say nothing, do nothing and take the attitude that’s it’s none of their business because, like Mary Raftery, they were not actually in an institutions.
Hi Paddy
Why not take the lot of them to court under the law they have to have provide access for you
Christy
Dear Paddy don’t we just know with a title like this things had to be a little suspect, ‘No way In’ more like!!.
Blame, let’s not go there, let’s just say artist’s visit the venue themselves during the rehearsals. If they can sit there knowing you cannot get into the venue shame on the lot of them.
If they have made a terrible mistake fine, another venue at short needn’t be a problem, or hire a huge marquee- hold the event where it is accessible.
A play about survivors that were excluded and abused, seen by those who were not!.
Responding to
Albert and Mary King on April 13th, 2010
“……..It appears that Mary Raftery is calling herself a “MOUTHPIECE” for the Ryan report in her article in The Irish Times dated 10th April 2010. However, it’s quite clear that Mary Raftery is a freeloader motivated by making money on the strength of victims of institutional child abuse…..”.
——————————————-
It is REALLY SAD and DISAPPOINTING that Mary Raftery would seem unable to show the compassion expected after so many years of her eloquent work. Moral fibre, Principle, all empty words. Writing can be a very convenient way of ignoring the Wrongs and Injustices done to ourselves – and therefore, others. Joyce did well out of it, as did Nietzsche and Kafka before him – except for the small matter of EARLY DEATH for each one of them ! There cannot have been too much talk about “social injustices and abuse” in her happy and shielded childhood.
It is a pity that she does not employ a foreign Agent, who would have seen a golden opportunity to market the play No Escape, WHILST STANDING IN THE TRUTH, AND ON THE VICTIM’S SIDE.
Raymond
David, I’ve spoken to Mary and I’ve spoken to Fiach, director of the Abbey and there’s no way a wheelchair can be accommodated in the Peacock or the Abbey for that matter. One couldn’t get to the bar and there are no wheelchair accessible toilets in the place. Hasn’t anyone told the Abbey Theatre Board that this is 2010 and that those of us with disabilities do actually want to go out, to socialise and not to be discriminated against. Best wishes David, Paddy.
I second that motion Frank!!
Have I ever come up with a bad idea? :-)
Thanks so much Mary, I appreciate your comment. It’s a scandal that in 2010 we still have what amounts to discrimination of people with disabilities in of all places, OUR NATIONAL THEATRE. This cannot be justified and cannot be allowed to continue. Best wishes. Paddy.
Congratulations Paddy Doyle for highlighting this important issue. It is outrageous that people who move in a different way still receive discrimination from those who find it easier to move.
We who describe ourselves as human beings only earn this title when we act in a human way.
Brilliant idea Paddy.
They’ve had long enough to make the place accessible. It’s just another facet of this badly run country. At the next 1916 “commemoration” we should apologise to the British with a big banner that says “Please come back, we miss you”.
Dear Paddy
Well done to you I am sad that it takes you to have to picket the Abbey we will be there to support you all the way what were they thinking Paddy in my opinion it is more of the same abuse we have suffered all our lives in Ireland SHAME ON THEM Gabrielle O Gorman I for one will be there to picket G
Good for you Paddy. I was invited to the opening night but due to prior arrangements I will not be able to attend. I would have been horrified had I bought my flight ticket only to find at the eleventh hour that there was no access for wheelchairs. Due to my disability (Spina Bifida) I use my wheelchair a lot more these days.
I don’t blame Mary Raftery for this overlook but I am amazed that in this day and age the Abbey Theatre (Peacock Theatre) do not accommodate for wheelchair users.
I nevertheless wish the opening night a great success and best wishes to Mary Raftery.