Pygmalion 26, a new Irish-language adaptation of Shaw's classic, premieres at The Everyman Theatre in Cork on 19 October 2026, carrying forward the legacy of Gearóid Uí Chairealláin, the Belfast language activist and former President of Conradh na Gaeilge who first imagined the project before his death. His widow, Bríd Ó Gallchóir, director of Aisling Ghéar, has brought the idea to the stage with funding from both Arts Councils on the island.
In a reflection published by RTÉ, Ó Gallchóir describes the production as rooted in a marriage lived through Irish, in activism, art and community. Gearóid, she writes, was a force of nature: central to the creation of Belfast's urban Gaeltacht and a lifelong fighter for Irish-language rights, education and dignity. Their sons Ainle, Cairbre and Naoise, known to many as a member of Kneecap, were raised through the language and remain part of the cultural legacy he built.
Why rework Shaw's Pygmalion in Irish?
Gearóid saw in Shaw's exploration of class, accent and identity a perfect frame for debates within Irish-language communities today: who counts as a native speaker, who is authentic, and who decides. He sketched a conceptual reworking in which Eliza becomes a young Belfast woman navigating the city's linguistic politics, and the professor becomes an Irish-language academic convinced he can transform a learner into a Gaeltacht native, with the Oireachtas as the ultimate test of identity.
After his death, Ó Gallchóir felt a responsibility to carry the idea forward. When the Irish-language Theatre Award was announced in 2025, her team applied under Strand 3, proposing a major new adaptation set in Belfast during Oireachtas na Samhna 2026 and touring to eight venues. The Arts Council for Ireland and the Arts Council for Northern Ireland jointly awarded the funding.
A Belfast story, told with pride
Nuala Ní Néill led the adaptation, working in a writers' room with Tony Devlin and Seán T. Ó Meallaigh. The resulting script keeps Shaw's humour while speaking to the lived realities of Irish speakers: Éilís is a TikTok creator outside Belfast City Hall, not a flower seller, and An tOllamh Ó hUiginn wagers he can pass her off as a Gaeltacht native at the Oireachtas within six months.
Ó Gallchóir says the production reflects the linguistic vibrancy of West Belfast and challenges outdated ideas about who owns the language. The language, she insists, belongs to everyone.
A nationwide search for Éilís
Over the summer, the team searched Gaelscoileanna and Irish-language communities across the country for a young performer to carry the role. Eithne Carson was cast as Éilís, alongside what Ó Gallchóir calls a formidable group of fellow actors.
Where does Pygmalion 26 tour?
After the Cork premiere on 19 October 2026, the tour travels to Galway, Mullingar, Waterford, Belfast, Donegal and Dublin. Each stop, Ó Gallchóir says, continues the journey Gearóid began decades ago: bringing Irish-language stories to audiences across the island, challenging assumptions and celebrating the richness of the linguistic culture.
For a movement that has always been generational, evolving and alive, the message from West Belfast is clear. The future of Irish-language theatre is being written now, with purpose and determination, and it is unmistakably Belfast.
What is Pygmalion 26?
Pygmalion 26 is a new Irish-language adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, developed by Belfast company Aisling Ghéar. Set during Oireachtas na Samhna 2026, it follows Éilís, a young Belfast TikTok creator, and An tOllamh Ó hUiginn, an academic who wagers he can pass her off as a Gaeltacht native within six months.
Who was Gearóid Uí Chairealláin?
Gearóid Uí Chairealláin was a former President of Conradh na Gaeilge and a central figure in building Belfast's urban Gaeltacht. He spent decades campaigning for Irish-language rights, education and visibility, and first conceived the idea of reimagining Pygmalion through an Irish-language lens before his death.
When and where does Pygmalion 26 premiere?
The production premieres at The Everyman Theatre in Cork on 19 October 2026, before touring to Galway, Mullingar, Waterford, Belfast, Donegal and Dublin.