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theatre · Friday 3 July 2026 · 7:30pm 
The Shaughraun
At Town Hall Theatre · Courthouse Square, Galway City, Co. Galway
At Town Hall Theatre · Courthouse Square, Galway City, Co. Galway
Druid Theatre bringing Dion Boucicault’s The Shaughraun back to the stage after more than four decades is the kind of theatrical event that does not happen every season. Directed by Garry Hynes - winner of a Tony Award for The Beauty Queen of Leenane - this production opens at Town Hall Theatre on 3 July as the centrepiece of the Galway International Arts Festival. It suits anyone who loves classic Irish drama, fine ensemble acting, or who simply wants a proper night at the theatre in one of Ireland’s best festival settings.
Written by Dion Boucicault in 1874, The Shaughraun is set in a restless, divided Ireland and follows Conn, a charming trickster and unlikely hero who uses wit and defiance to navigate the world around him. The play mixes broad comedy with genuine emotional weight - themes of land, loyalty, and identity sit under the laughter - and Boucicault’s melodramatic storytelling keeps the action moving at pace.
Garry Hynes brings her characteristic precision to the piece, and the cast is as strong as Druid assembles. Aaron Monaghan plays Conn, with Marie Mullen, Rory Nolan, Marty Rea, Eileen Walsh, Megan Cusack, Jamie Beamish, and others filling out the ensemble. Live music composed and performed by Conor Linehan accompanies the production throughout. Running time is 2 hours 35 minutes with an interval, and the show is suitable for ages 12 and up.
The run includes preview performances on 3, 4, 13, and 14 July; matinees on 18, 23, and 25 July at 2pm; a captioned performance on Friday 17 July at 7pm and Saturday 18 July at 2pm; and a post-show discussion on Monday 20 July. There is no performance on Sunday 19 July.
Galway city is well connected by road and rail. Irish Rail runs regular services from Dublin Heuston and Limerick, with the journey from Dublin taking around two hours and fifteen minutes. Bus Eireann and GoBus both run frequent coach services from Dublin. Town Hall Theatre sits right in Galway city centre at Courthouse Square, a short walk from the train station and most of the main bus stops. Parking in the city centre can be tight during festival weeks - the Jurys Inn and Eyre Square multi-storeys are the nearest options, but arriving by public transport or staying centrally is the easier call during GIAF.
The Galway International Arts Festival runs across the city through late July, with street theatre, visual art, and music filling the lanes and squares around the venue. The Latin Quarter and Quay Street are close by and lively on summer evenings. There is more to see in Galway and across Co. Galway.
Heading to Town Hall Theatre in Galway? Galway has plenty more to see. Read the Galway area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.