Ria Mooney Papers,

1917-1983.

The Ria Mooney Papers is a collection of correspondence and other material concerning Mooney's career in Irish and international theatre. The correspondence traces her work as an actress, director, and producer in the Abbey Theatre, Gate Theatre, and Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, as well as her involvement in touring productions across Europe and the US. Correspondents include some of the founders and directors of the major Irish theatres, including Ernest Blythe, Lennox Robinson, Micháel MacLiammóir, and Hilton Edwards. The papers also contain references to her work with the Civic Repertory Theatre in New York under the guidance of Eva Le Gallienne. Within the collection there is correspondence between Mooney and theatre and literary figures such as Mervyn Wall, Terence Smith, Seán O'Faoláin, Brian Friel, Anew McMaster, M.J. Molloy, Val Mulkerns, and Emmet D'Alton in which the correspondents discuss a range of literary and social matters. Mooney was Margaret Cauldwell's aunt, and Tony Cauldwell is the brother of the actor Brendan Cauldwell.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Creator: Mooney, Ria, 1903-1973
Contributors: Abbey Theatre
Format: Manuscript
Language:English
Subjects:
Notes:Physical description: 3 boxes (79 folders).
Arrangement:Fonds
I. Correspondence. II. Other Papers.
Provenance:Originally in the possession of Tony and Margaret Cauldwell.
Published / Created: 1917-1983.
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II.i. Articles written by Ria Mooney,

1948-1952.
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Bibliographic Details
In Collection: Ria Mooney Papers, 1917-1983
Description:Four articles and essays written by Ria Mooney concerning her return to the Abbey Theatre, the future of the Abbey Theatre, and theatre critics.
Contains a manuscript draft of an article titled 'Critics are not what they used to be' in which Mooney criticises the pessimism and lack of enthusiam in theatre critics (written in blue ink on A4 lined paper, 3pp); and also a summary version of the same text with the titled changed to 'The Abbey Theatre's 'good-old' days!' (manuscript draft on blue A5 paper, 3pp).
Also includes a typescript copy of a talk given by Mooney on BBC radio on 13th June 1952 concerning the history and future of the Abbey Theatre and the Abbey Players (5pp).
Also contains a typescript article written by Mooney titled 'My return to the Abbey', in which she discusses her return to the Abbey Theatre as a producer and founder of the Abbey Experimental Theatre with her first production being George Shiels's play 'The Caretakers'. Mooney also refers to Jack B. Yeats, Terence Smith, M.J. Dolan, Lennox Robinson, and lists a large number of possible plays to be held at the Abbey and Experimental Theatre (7pp).
Main Creator: Mooney, Ria, 1903-1973
Created: 1948-1952.
Language:English
Extent:1 folder (4 items).
Format:Manuscript
Call Number: MS 49,603/58 (Manuscripts Reading Room)
Rights:Reproduction rights owned by the National Library of Ireland.