Object Detail

The Playboy of the Western World

The Playboy of the Western World

Ink drawing, 38.6 x 44.5 cm.

Scene from 'The Playboy of the Western World' by John M. Synge, performed Jan. 26, 1907. Featuring: Michael Scott as Shawn Keogh, Maureen Delaney as 'Widow Quinn', F.J. McCormick as 'Philly Cullen', Arthur Shields as 'Christopher Mahon', P.J. Carolan as 'Old Mahon', Barry Fitzgerald as 'Michael James Flaherty' and Eileen Crowe as 'Margaret Flaherty' (Pegeen Mike).

Grace Gifford was an Irish cartoonist and republican. Having studied at Slade School of Fine Art in London from 1907-1908, she returned returned to Dublin, establishing a reputation for humorous depictions of Irish writers, artists, academics, and actors. During this time she also became increasingly involved in republican political activism.

She married Joseph Mary Plunkett on the night before he was executed in Kilmainham jail in 1916. He was one of the seven signatories of the Proclamation. Grace applied in 1937 for a Military Service Pension for services to the nationalist struggle from 1916 – 1923. She claimed those services to be “production of political cartoons and collecting for the republican cause.”

Inscribed on verso "Playboy".

(Frances Clarke. "Gifford, Grace (Evelyn)". Dictionary of Irish Biography)