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'''Seán O'Casey''', or Seán Ó Cathasaigh in Irish (March 30, 1880 to September 18, 1964) was an important [[Ireland|Irish]] playwright.   

'''Seán O'Casey''', or Seán Ó Cathasaigh in Irish (March 30, 1880 to September 18, 1964) was an important [[Ireland|Irish]] playwright.   

Born John Casey to a middle class family, he suffered from childhood eye trouble.  O'Casey left school at 14 and worked for many years as a manual laborer.<ref>O'Connnor, G. (1988).  ''Se&aacute;n O'Casey:  A Life.''  New York:  Atheneum.</ref>  As a young man he was involved in nationalist and socialist causes, at various times being a member of the [[Gaelic League]], the [[Irish Republican Brotherhood]], and the [[Irish Transport and General Workers Union]].  For part of 1914 he was secretary of the [[Irish Citizen Army]], created by [[Jim Larkin]] to advance the interests of the working class.<ref>''ibid''</ref>

Born John Casey to a [[middle class]] family, he suffered from childhood eye trouble.  O'Casey left school at 14 and worked for many years as a manual laborer.<ref>O'Connnor, G. (1988).  ''Se&aacute;n O'Casey:  A Life.''  New York:  Atheneum.</ref>  As a young man he was involved in [[nationalist]] and [[socialist]] causes, at various times being a member of the [[Gaelic League]], the [[Irish Republican Brotherhood]], and the [[Irish Transport and General Workers Union]].  For part of 1914 he was secretary of the [[Irish Citizen Army]], created by [[Jim Larkin]] to advance the interests of the working class.<ref>''ibid''</ref>

Much of O'Casey's work, particularly his early plays, focuses on nationalist themes.  He made his public debut when ''The Shadow of a Gunman'' was performed at [[Dublin|Dublin's]] [[Abbey Theater]] in 1923.  This was followed by his two most critically acclaimed plays, ''Juno and the Paycock'' in 1924 and ''The Plough and the Stars'' in 1926, both also put on by the Abbey.  The latter was misunderstood by audiences as being anti-nationalist, and generated unrest similar to [[John Millington Synge|Synge's]] ''Playboy of the Western World'' 19 years earlier.

Much of O'Casey's work, particularly his early plays, focuses on nationalist themes.  He made his public debut when ''The Shadow of a Gunman'' was performed at [[Dublin|Dublin's]] [[Abbey Theater]] in 1923.  This was followed by his two most critically acclaimed plays, ''Juno and the Paycock'' in 1924 and ''The Plough and the Stars'' in 1926, both also put on by the Abbey.  The latter was misunderstood by audiences as being anti-nationalist, and generated unrest similar to [[John Millington Synge|Synge's]] ''Playboy of the Western World'' 19 years earlier.

Upset at the rejection of his next play, ''The Silver Tassie'', in 1929 O'Casey broke with the Abbey and moved to [[England]], where he lived until his death.  His plays during this time were more explicitly socialist but did not meet with the same critical or box office success as his early works.  O'Casey died of a heart attack at the age of 84<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0330.html Obituary in the ''New York Times'']</ref>.

Upset at the rejection of his next play, ''The Silver Tassie'', in 1929 O'Casey broke with the Abbey and moved to [[England]], where he lived until his death.  His plays during this time were more explicitly socialist but did not meet with the same critical or box office success as his early works.  O'Casey died of a [[heart attack]] at the age of 84<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0330.html Obituary in the ''New York Times'']</ref>.

== Works ==

== Works ==