Play on life of lorrha war hero opens in galway

The award-winning play on the life of Lorrha born hero of the First World War Martin O'Meara is being staged in Galway this week.
'Under Any Old Gum Tree' makes its Irish premiere at the Galway Fringe Festival on Thursday. It will be staged for four nights.
The play tells the story of O'Meara, the Lorrha man who emigrated to Australia and fought in France during the war. He had the distinguished honour of earning the Victoria Cross for bravery.
Written and directed by Cork-born Noel O’Neill with Clare native Kieran Garvey in the lead role and Rex Gray supporting, 'Under Any Old Gum Tree' has been performed at numerous venues in Australia. It won 'Best Actor' and the 'People’s Choice' awards at the Western Australia State Drama Festival 2014, where 'Perth Theatre Reviews' described the play as “powerful, moving, insightful, occasionally funny….a blistering exploration of the devastation of the Great War”.
Son of labourer Michael O'Meara and his wife Margaret (née O'Connor), Martin O'Meara was born in Lorrha in 1885. He worked in the timber industry after settling in Western Australia. He joined the army there and was serving as a stretcher-bearer at the 1916 Battle of Pozières when he was awarded the 'VC' for saving the lives of 25 comrades.
O'Meara was credited with braving intense artillery and machinegun fire to retrieve wounded soldiers from 'No Man’s Land'. He susbsequently returned to a hero's welcome in his Australian home of Collie. But O'Meara's experiences during the war caused him to have a complete mental breakdown, and he spent the rest of his life in mental hospitals, dying in 1935.
All these elements of O'Meara's life are explored in 'Under Any Old Gum Tree'.
“It has been quite some time since I have been so moved by a play,” wrote Colin Merrey of 'Western Australia's Irish Scene'. “It was told in such a way that you were so affected by the injustices done to this man that you literally wept with him and for him.”
Australian historian Fred Rea, who has played a key role in promoting O'Meara's story, visited the soldier's birthplace in Lorrha this week. Owner of 'Western Australia's Irish Scene', Mr Rea helped to put together the play, which he said has strengthened the Irish connection with Australia. He plans to visit again next year and hopes to organise a history workshop in Lorrha.
Mr Rea encouraged local people to go and see the O'Meara play in Galway. 'Under Any Old Gum Tree' will be staged at Kennedy's of Eyre Square over four nights (Thursday July 23rd to Sunday July 26th), starting at 7pm. Tickets €10. Visit www.galwayfringe.ie.