Humanity Dick rides again in revival of one-man show

The one-man show, Humanity Dick: A Tale of Beasts and Bullets, which was a sell-out success at the Galway Fringe Festival last year 2016 coming to Moycullen on Saturday, May 6.

Seán Leonard’s one-man drama tells the fascinating and entertaining true story of Galway’s own Richard ‘Humanity Dick’ Martin, MP – Connemara landlord, celebrity duellist, father of animal protection, cuckolded husband, bankrupt, exile and more.

In an extraordinary life of glorious achievement and dismal failure, Martin (1754 –1834) was feared and jeered in equal measure.

But he always held his honour and the welfare of animals above all else and devoted much of his life to defending both, no matter how high the cost.

Taking on the role of Martin, Seán recounts and acts out scenes from a life of duels, revolutions, contrary cousins, wayward wives, financial failure, parliamentary persistence and, famously, a donkey in a courthouse.

This show premiered at the Galway Fringe Festival in the City last year. It sold out for five nights, moving from the Theatre at Busker Browne’s to Upstairs at the Quays for the final two shows to cope with demand.

“People really engaged with Martin’s story, and not only because of the local angle and his entertaining, eventful and internationally significant life story,” Sean remarks.

“Although he’s remembered as the founder of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and ‘King of Connemara’, he was also a flawed and often contradictory character who made a lot of very human mistakes – some comic, some tragic.

“In spite of this, his desire to do good, his humanity and decency, always shone through. I think that’s something everyone can identify with, even when they’re laughing at his follies,” he adds

■ The show is being staged in partnership with the Moycullen Historical Society, and will take place in The Forge, Moycullen at 8pm on Saturday, May 6. Tickets are available from The Forge or by calling 087 4364699.