Drama: The Crow’s Old Gold

Strive Theatre present:

The Crow’s Old Gold

A play by Carina McNally in collaboration with dramaturg Éadaoin O’ Donoghue. dir. Ciarán MacArtain

The Crow’s Old Gold explores the mythology of the magical blacksmith, the Gaibhleann Gabha, on Crow Island at the end of the Beara Peninsula, the Hag of Beara on Dursey Island and the rocks Bull, Cow and Calf. Centering on Goibhniú, the Dé Danann blacksmithing God, the play is set on a rock near Dursey Island called The Crow where he is reputed to have had his magical forge.

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On a windswept rock near Dursey Island, where legend claims the great blacksmithing god Goibhniú once forged his enchanted weapons, past and present collide in a story of myth, superstition, and personal reckoning. The Crow’s Old Gold delves into the folklore of the Gaibhleann Gabha, the Hag of Beara, and the ancient spirits said to inhabit the rugged coast of West Cork and Kerry.

At the heart of the play are two women, bound by fate to this mystical land. Grainne, a sharp-tongued local shop assistant, knows everyone’s business and isn’t shy about sharing it. She’s practical, grounded, and skeptical of old superstitions. Maree, a woman from Cavan, has journeyed to the Beara Peninsula with a deep sense of purpose—to make an offering to the legendary forge before facing a life-altering surgery. As she immerses herself in the ancient lore of the Dé Danann, she seeks meaning, strength, and perhaps even a sign from the old gods.

Through humor, wit, and moments of haunting beauty, The Crow’s Old Gold explores the enduring power of myth and the ways in which the past continues to shape the present.