The McGee! Project
Prepared forCanadian Association of Irish Studies
Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia21, May, 2010
Tara Players Theatre of Ottawa
byPadraig Finlay
Outline
• McGee’s Chronology• McGee’s Obituary, Threats, Relationships• Project Challenges, Elements, Team• Project Schedule • References, Websites• Discussion
Chronology (1)
• 1825, April 13, Born Ireland (Carlingford Lough, County Louth)
• 1842, April 7, Sailed from Ireland (Wexford) to Canada (Quebec City), on to United States (Rhode Island, Boston)
• 1845, Returned to Ireland, England (London)• 1848, Escaped to United States after “Young
Irelanders” uprising (Boston, Buffalo, etc)
Chronology (2)
• 1857, Moved to Canada (Montreal). The New Era Journal. Elected Member of Parliament
• 1862, Appointed President of the Council• 1864, Appointed Minister Agriculture,
Immigration and Statistics• 1864, Toured Maritimes, Member of
Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences• 1866, Member of London Conference
Chronology (3)
• 1867, July 1, British North America Act proclaimed - Dominion of Canada
• Not appointed to John A MacDonald’s Cabinet.
• 1868, April 7, Assassinated, Spark’s Street, Ottawa
• 1868, April 13, Buried, Cotes des Neiges Cemetery, Montreal
Obituary
• Journalist and Editor• Writer and Poet• Lecturer and Orator• Political Figure• Roman Catholic• Family Man• Human Being
Threats
• British Government• American Nativists• Catholic Church• Orange Lodge• Fenians
Relationships
• Mother - died when eight years old• Aunt Bella - Providence, Rhode Island• Mrs. Mary Anne Sadlier - publisher• Mary Teresa (Caffrey) - wife• Children - Peggy and F(r)asa, three died• John A Macdonald - ally? and Prime Minister• George Brown - Conservative, ally?• Patrick James Whelan - Assassin?
McGee! Project Challenges (1)
• How to convey Thomas D’Arcy McGee ?• Historical documentation vs probabilities• Creative drama, conflicts vs exposition of facts • Different audiences - students (elementary,
high school, university, mature), general public (many different demographics)
• Media options - print, lectures, theatre, audio, video, big screenings, Internet, YouTube, PDAs
McGee! Project Challenges (2)
• Combination of techniques - narrative, print, posters, audio, visual, theatre, film, video -Web, “Be Googlable” to be…or not to be
• Attention span of audiences (1 to50 minutes)• Time, Money• Objectives (many!)
– Be informative, instructive, stimulating, humourous, entertaining
McGee! Project Elements
• Videos - Demonstration, Final• Website - www.mcgeeproject.com• Music – Compact Disc (CD) and Concerts by
Frank Cassidy and James Stephens, and friends• Exhibitions - Digital, Poster Displays• Documents - Student Guides, Teacher Plans, etc.• Fund Raising
McGee! Core Team
• Padraig Finlay - Producer, Writer, Actor• Robert and Brenda Rooney - Video Production• Miles Finlayson – Cinematographer• Janet Irwin - Dramaturge, Acting Coach• David Wilson - Historical Advisor• Frank Edwards - Educational Consultant• Selena Karkash - Website Manager• Mary Hogan-Finlay – Life Mate, Coach
McGee! Project Schedule
• Phase 1 - Completed– One man theatre show at – Comhaltas Ceolteoiri Eireann Convention– Music CD “In Honour of Life & Times of TDMcG”
• Phase 2 - Work in Progress– Demonstration Video (Completed)– Website (Launched)– Workshops, Focus Groups, Feedback (Ongoing)
• Phase 3 - Content and Timing? - It depends!
References
• Wilson, David A., “Thomas D’Arcy McGee, Volume 1, Passion, Reason and Politics, 1825-1857”: McGill-Queen’s University Press
• Slattery, T.P., “The Assassination of D’Arcy McGee”, Toronto: Doubleday 1968
• Slattery, T.P., “They Got to Find Mee Guilty Yet”. Toronto: Doubleday 1972
Websites
• www.mcgeeproject.com• http://taraplayers.ncf.ca• http://www.rooneyproductions.com/
main.htm• www.endlessroadproductions.com• www.mcgeemusic.ca• http://www.hedgehogproductions.com/
Discussion
• Viewing of Demonsration Video• Comments, Questions, Answers• Suggestions• Contact
– Padraig Finlay– [email protected]– 613 291 5810
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