“We Have Him Back!” is coming to Mayo venue

“We Have Him Back!”, a new theatrical production about Mayo hunger striker Frank Stagg whose body was seized by the Irish government 50 years ago and buried in a remote grave against his last wishes is coming to Castlebar’s Royal Theatre on October 10.

The two-act play - which has been performed before sold-out audiences across Ireland - offers an historically accurate and deeply moving account of the events surrounding the “three funerals” of Frank Stagg. It tells the story of a mother watching her son die on hunger strike, a grieving wife confronting official falsehoods and a brother whose fierce love and iron resolve would not permit Frank Stagg’s dying wish to remain unfulfilled.

The Stagg family gave its full support and blessing to the theatrical project. George, Frank’s younger brother, lived through the events portrayed in the play, and his personal experiences infuse the script with stark realism and historical veracity.

“This production tells our brother Frank’s story with honesty, dignity and accuracy,” George Stagg said. “It honours not only his sacrifice, but the pain, courage and determination of our family in the face of Frank’s treatment even after his death.”

Frank Stagg died in February, 1976 in Wakefield Prison after 62 days without food. British authorities agreed to return his body to Ireland for burial. But under orders of the Irish government led by Liam Cosgrave of Fine Gael, Frank’s remains were hijacked in mid-flight and flown to Shannon Airport while his ageing mother and other family members waited in vain at Dublin Airport for his coffin to arrive. Frank’s body was never returned to his family for burial.

The Irish government buried Frank Stagg without permission of the family in an isolated grave in Leigue Cemetery. In his last will and testament—recorded shortly before he died—Frank expressed his desire to be buried beside fellow hunger striker Michael Gaughan in the republican plot.

The government then built a sentry hut in close proximity to the grave. When the hut was finally dismantled after 16 months of round-the-clock surveillance, four tons of concrete were dumped upon the grave to ensure that Frank’s remains could never be removed.

Four months later, on a moonless November night wet with rain, George Stagg and his compatriots embarked upon a daunting mission to ensure that Frank Stagg could finally rest in peace.

Brían MacSuibhne of Belmullet, who wrote the script and directs the play, drew great inspiration from members of the Stagg family. “George Stagg made a promise to his brother, and George fulfilled that promise. “We Have Him Back!” is not a story just about Frank - it’s about family and sibling love.”

MacSuibhne hopes the play will be seen by audiences of every generation, from older people with living memory of the events portrayed to younger people encountering this history for the first time.

“Fifty years ago, the truth was buried in concrete, censorship and lies. This play is about uncovering that truth, about love between brothers, and a family who refused to let their son be erased from history.”

With a cast of 12 and a crew of eight, “We Have Him Back!” breathes new life into a seminal episode in 1970’s Irish history. It helps restore the story of Frank Stagg to collective memory while exploring themes of family, state power and historical memory.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. performance of “We Have Him Back!” are available for purchase online here. The cost is €24 euro plus booking fee. Doors open at 7 p.m. There is no reserved seating.