Sighle Humphreys describes the riot that took place at a performance of 'The Plough and the Stars' at the Abbey Theatre on 11 February 1926.

Sighle Humphreys, a member of Cumann na mBan during the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War, describes the riot that took place in the Abbey Theatre at a performance of Sean O'Casey's play 'The Plough and the Stars' on 11 February 1926. The protest was organised by Cumann na mBan and Sighle explains why they caused such a riot. It was in response to what they saw as a lack of respect for the tricolour and not due to the fact that a prostitute was a prominent character in the play.

The Plough and the Stars was first performed at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1926. The riot occurred on the night of the fourth performance.

This episode of 'Women Today' was broadcast on 19 March 1984.

The accompanying photograph was taken by Ronan Lee and shows a scene from the Abbey Theatre's 50th Anniversary production of Sean O'Casey's play 'The Plough and the Stars', during filming in Studio 1 in October 1976. From left to right; Bryan Murray as Lieutenant Langon, Clive Geraghty as Jack Clitheroe, Geoffrey Golden as the Barman and Des Cave as Captain Brennan. This was an Abbey Theatre/RTÉ co-production, broadcast by RTÉ Television on 10 January 1977.