‘Humanity Dick’ comes to life in Seán’s one-man Fringe show

A new show, Humanity Dick: A Tale of Beasts and Bullets, being staged at this year’s Galway Fringe Festival, aims to bring Galway duellist and animal rights pioneer Richard Martin back to life

It will take place in Kirwan’s Lane Theatre @ Busker Browne’s from July 12-16 at 6pm daily.

The name ‘Humanity Dick’ Martin is familiar to most Galwegians, but few people know much about him. Some may be aware that City pub Tigh Neachtáin was once his townhouse, that he lived for a time at Ballynahinch Castle, or that he had some connection with animal rights.

The reality is more extraordinary and complex, according to Seán Leonard, who has written and will perform in this one-man show.

Martin was a celebrity duellist, benevolent landlord in Connemara, a Member of Parliament, a famously cuckolded husband, the almost single-handed father of animal protection and a financial disaster.

This unique character blazed a trail of triumph and tragedy in the Age of Revolution, and Seán will capture this in Humanity Dick: A Tale of Beasts and Bullets.

Seán takes on the role of Richard Martin, a man who was feared and jeered in equal measure, but who held his honour and the welfare of animals above all else. Martin devoted his entire life to defending both – no matter the cost.

Seán will recreate scenes from a life of deadly duels, regular revolutions, contrary cousins, wayward wives, financial failure, parliamentary persistence and, famously, a donkey in a courthouse.

“I’ve always had an interest in local history, and came across the story of Richard Martin a number of years ago,” explains Seán. “The first thing I learned was his connection with the foundation of the RSPCA, which was remarkable enough.

“It was when I read that, as the most famous duellist of the age in his youth, he was widely known as ‘Hairtrigger Dick”, and that his wife had cheated on him with at least two men, one of whom was Theobald Wolfe Tone, I really became interested!”

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.