MTU Access Service and MTU Arts Office are proud to present a performance by Michael Collins of his award-winning play “Magpies on the Pylon” at the Rory Gallagher Theatre, MTU Bishopstown Campus. This important production has toured to venues all over Ireland to raise awareness of a difficult issue through the arts, promoting dialogue and understanding while also encouraging engagement with support services.

In his play Magpies On The Pylon, playwright and actor Michael Collins examines the sensitive and some might say taboo subject of suicide within the Traveller community. A cold and often harrowing portrayal of one man’s grief and misunderstanding, Magpies On The Pylon is not an easy piece to sit through. Given its delicate subject matter (mental health, alcoholism, suicide), how could it be?

Magpies On The Pylon is set in a tiny bedroom belonging to Jim, a Traveller father who struggles to cope with the suicide of his 23-year-old son. After his son’s death, Jim has become isolated from other family members and is misusing alcohol. The audience accompanies Jim on an emotional roller-coaster ride as he articulates loving memories of his son, his fears for the well-being of his other three children, the turmoil that has developed in his relationship with his wife, his anger at God, and his agonising questions about whether there was something he could have done to prevent his son’s death.

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Tickets are Free, and available in advance at this link:

TICKET BOOKING LINK: https://events.mtu.ie/index.cfm?page=events&eventId=1390

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This performance will be followed by a panel discussion with MTU Access Service, MTU Arts Office, MTU Counselling Service, MTU's Department of Applied Social Care, and Michael Collins.

Representatives from MTU Counselling Service will be available after the performance.