How Máire described the cast of characters who would go on to change Irish history
PADRAIG PEARSE
The mutual admiration between Pearse and Yeats irritated Máire: ‘Pearse was very much attracted to WB. I thought at times he tried to imitate him. On one occasion there was a performance of (Pearse’s) plays at the Abbey...Well, at the show Pearse gave a speech about acting. He tried to imitate Yeats in gesture and voice walking up and down the stage when he was speaking. I was fairly well disgusted with him.’
WILLIE PEARSE
Máire didn’t rate the acting skills of Willie, younger brother of Pearse, very highly: ‘What he lacked in ability he made up in enthusiasm,’ she said of Willie, left. ‘He would take you aside and whisper “Do you think I was good? I’m doing my best. ” One could always gain his gratitude
with advice.’
COUNTESS MARKIEVICZ
The revolutionary suffragette, below, was a ‘light to us all’, noted Máire, even if she was ‘unpredictable as an actress’. ‘On stage her enthusiasm for the work occasionally carried her away,’ Máire said. ‘She could never quite sink her personality in a role. It was said that as a young girl presented at court, she had dazzled… but she seldom made any attempt to show off her beauty.’
MAUD GONNE
Standing almost 6ft, Yeats’ muse, right, inspired awe in Máire. ‘Watching her, one could readily understand the reputation she enjoyed as the most beautiful woman in Ireland, the inspiration of the whole revolutionary movement. She was the most exquisitely fashioned creature I have ever seen.’