DERRY BOYS REVIEW: IRISH PRIDE OR WOUNDS THAT HIDE?

Niall McCarthy’s new play explores the lasting scars of The Troubles and the tensions between progress and the pull of a violent past.

★★★☆☆

Niall McCarthy’s Derry Boys is a bold and ambitious play that dives deep into the complexities of modern Irish identity, grappling with the echoes of The Troubles and the diverging paths of two men trying to find meaning in a fractured world. It's a play with sharp ideas, powerful performances, and a story that lingers — but it’s also one that struggles with tonal clarity.

At the heart of the piece are Paddy (Eoin Sweeney) and Mick (Matthew Blaney), childhood troublemakers turned ideological opposites. Sweeney’s portrayal of the introspective and idealistic Paddy is deeply moving, full of quiet strength and conviction. Blaney, in contrast, is magnetic and menacing as Mick, a man hardened by anger and consumed by his own version of patriotism. Their chemistry is electric, and their final collision feels both inevitable and devastating. Catherine Rees also deserves high praise as Aoife — her grounded, emotionally layered performance provides a much-needed moral center to the chaos around her.

The writing by McCarthy is thoughtful, often poetic, and occasionally biting. But while the themes are rich — nationalism, legacy, forgiveness, and change — the structure could use tightening. The play sometimes feels unsure of itself, meandering in tone and pacing. It’s billed as a comedy, but aside from a few early exchanges that hint at humor from the boys’ school days, this is far more of a drama, perhaps even a dark tragedy. A reclassification, or a clearer embrace of dark comedy conventions, might serve it better.

That said, Derry Boys does leave an impact. It wrestles with real questions in a post-conflict society, and it doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths. With some structural refinement, it has the potential to become a truly great piece of contemporary Irish theatre.

As it stands, Derry Boys is a compelling, if uneven, night at the theatre — powered by phenomenal performances and a story that dares to confront the ghosts of the past.

Derry Boys - Theatre 503

Attended on 28 May 2025  

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