Poignant production exploring legacy of Mother and Baby homes comes to Castlepollard
A powerful and deeply moving theatre production examining the lasting legacy of Ireland’s Mother and Baby homes is set to take to the stage in Castlepollard this weekend.
Presented by Once Off Productions and NB Theatre, with support from Longford’s Backstage Theatre, In Plain Sight will be staged as an off-site performance at the Castle Varagh Hotel on Friday, November 13 at 8pm and Saturday, November 14 at 2pm.
Bringing together performer and activist Noelle Brown and acclaimed singer and architect Camille O’Sullivan, the production offers a delicate and compassionate exploration of how these institutions affected women, children, and wider local communities.
Through a blend of story, song, and architectural analysis, Brown and O’Sullivan question the links between inconvenient history and physical place. The narrative focuses directly on the church-run, state-approved Mother and Baby homes at Castlepollard, Sean Ross Abbey, and Bessborough.
During the performance, the pair examine the design and history of the buildings themselves, shedding light on the harsh environments experienced by those who lived inside them. The script weaves together architectural reflections, modern excerpts from government policy, and 100-year-old correspondence from the religious orders that operated the institutions for over seven decades.
Throughout these curated scenes, O’Sullivan performs original songs alongside powerful re-enactments of Brown’s tireless campaigning for justice. Together, these elements highlight both the painful history of religious-led incarceration and the capacity of storytelling to help heal deep wounds.
Directed by Veronica Coburn, with sound and original music by Denis Clohessy and lighting design by Bill Woodland, In Plain Sight sits somewhere between a town hall talk and documentary theatre. It invites Westmeath audiences to reflect on community and nation, asking how Ireland can move forward while still grappling with the shadows of Church and State.
Tickets for In Plain Sight at the Castle Varagh Hotel (N91 KWP4) are priced at €20/€18 and are available to book now via backstage.ie.