Irish Bastards: Celia de Fréine and Merriman’s The Midnight Court/Cúirt an Mheán Oíche

Abstract

This article examines Celia de Freine’s re-imagining of Brian Merriman’s canonic text The Midnight Court/Cuirt an Mhean Oiche. Through textual and contextual analysis of specific extracts of the texts, the article illustrates how de Freine’s version challenges audiences to consider their participation in the social conditions of contemporary marriage, relationships and sexual practices for young women in contemporary Ireland. To this end she draws on Kevin Myers’ “Mother of Bastards” article to highlight the misogyny experienced by unmarried mothers in Ireland.