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Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory by Mary Moynihan – Live Performances
Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory by Mary Moynihan – Live Performances
October 10 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm IST
A live monologue performance from Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Part II by Mary Moynihan
Sharing the story of Teresa Magueyal (1958 – 2023), a woman searcher of disappeared people and a human rights defender from Mexico, accompanied by poetry and music. Followed by a talk on stories of peaceful human rights defenders and the promotion of equality and human rights. Presented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders.
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Artists
Mary Moynihan, writer, poet, creator of art and photography. Artistic Director, Smashing Times International Centre for Arts and Equality, Artistic Curator, Dublin International Arts and Human Rights festival. Writer of Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Parts 1 and II
Laura O’Leary, International Events and Promotions Coordinator, developer and coordinator of Memorial Monologues for Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Curator, Irish Arts and Human Rights festival
Conor Fortune, Head of Communications and Events, Front Line Defenders
Ciara Hayes, Producer and Performer, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality
Sebastien Luthers, musician
Éanna Ó Brádaigh, Production Stage Manager and MC
Dr Eric Weitz, Director
Full Event Details
Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Parts I and II by Mary Moynihan were commissioned by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Frontline Defenders and feature a series of powerful monologues adapted from the words and stories of brave and inspirational human rights defenders from around the world who were murdered because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others. Each year since 2024, Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders have presented a variation of the show at the physical Memorial to Human Rights Defenders in the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin, designed by Grafton Architects.
Our presentation for 2026 feature a live monologue performance from Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Part II by Mary Moynihan, presented by Smashing times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders, performed by Ciara Hayes, and directed by Dr Eric Weitz.
The monologue to be performed tells the story of Teresa Magueyal (1958 – 2023), a woman searcher of disappeared people and a human rights defender from Mexico, accompanied by poetry readings and a workshop talk on stories of peaceful human rights defenders, encouraging discussion on active citizenship, social inclusion, and equality. The sessions empower participants to consider how they can make positive social change and build connections across Dublin.
This unique event is presented for two performances only. The first is a live indoor performance on Friday 9 October 2026, 7pm, at the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Centre, 30 Sandycove Road, Dublin, for the launch of the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival. The second performance and talk takes place on Saturday 10 October, 3pm, outdoors at the Iveagh Gardens Dublin, weather permitting.
The show was commissioned by Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders and scripted by Mary Moynihan to pay tribute to the many brave and inspirational human rights defenders around the world who have been silence and killed because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others.
Iveagh Gardens are located on Clonmel Street, off Harcourt Street in Dublin 2. Access is by Clonmel Street, Hatch Street, and to the rear of the National Concert Hall on Earlsfort Terrace. Please note that there is no wheelchair access through the Concert Hall gate entrance. Iveagh Gardens was awarded a Green Flag 2022-2023 which is an international bench marking standard for parks and green spaces. Come and join us as we pay tribute to the many brave and inspirational human rights defenders around the world who have been silence and killed because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others.
History of Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Parts I and II
Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Parts I and II by Mary Moynihan were originally commissioned by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Frontline Defenders in 2023 for the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival. The script features a series of nine powerful monologues adapted from the words and stories of nine brave and inspirational human rights defenders from around the world who were murdered because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others.
The full script features monologues on each on the following human rights defenders:
Part I
- Lasantha Wickramatunga, journalist, Sri Lanka
- Natalya Estemirova, journalist and human rights defender, Chechnya
- Raed Fares, journalist and activist, Syria
- Bety Cariño, activist and women’s rights defender, Mexico
Part II
- FannyAnn Eddy (1974-2004), LGBTIQ+ activist, Sierra Leone
- Daphne Caruana, (1964-2017), journalist, columnist and blogger, Malta
- Rosemary Nelson, (1958-1999), human rights lawyer, Northern Ireland
- Marielle Franco (1979-2018), human rights activist and elected council woman, Brazil
- Teresa Magueyal (1958 – 2023), woman searcher of disappeared people and a human rights defender, Mexico
Six of these defenders — Natalya Estemirova, Chechnya; Lasantha Wickramatunga, Sri Lanka, Raed Fares, Syria, Daphne Caruana Galizia, Malta, Rosemary Nelson, Northern Ireland and Marielle Franco, Brazil — are remembered on plaques in the physical Memorial to Human Rights Defenders in the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin, designed by Grafton Architects. The memorial is an Ogham garden, with five standing stones etched with ancient Irish Ogham script, each representing a native Irish tree. The space is enclosed by a crafted metal screen, on which are plaques, bearing the words of the human rights defenders. The physical memorial provides a contemplative space to commemorate those silenced for their courage. The memorial was launched by Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mary Lawlor and former Front Line Defenders Executive Director Andrew Anderson.
The Iveagh Gardens memorial connects directly to the International Human Rights Defenders Memorial (hrdmemorial.org), initiated by Ireland-based Front Line Defenders, which documents over 300 killings of human rights defenders worldwide every year — preserving truth and striving for justice. These killings are bravely documented year after year by organisations across the world to preserve the truth and one day, achieve justice. https://hrdmemorial.org/
Human Rights Defenders listed at the Memorial Monument in Iveagh Gardens are:
Cao Shunli
Natalya Estemirova
Anna Politkovskaya
Marielle Franco
Bety Cariňo
Rosemary Nelson
Berta Caceres
Razan al-Najjar
Xulhaz Mannan
Raed Fares
Lasantha Wickrematunga
Pascal Kabungulu
Abdul Karim Al-Khaiwani
Daphne Caruana
Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Part I was commissioned and premiered at the fifth annual Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival in 2023 and was performed again in 2024. Part I featured four monologues: Lasantha Wickramatunga, journalist, Sri Lanka; Natalya Estemirova, journalist and human rights defender, Chechnya; Raed Fares, journalist and activist, Syria and Bety Cariño, activist and women’s rights defender, Mexico. Part I was performed at the Iveagh Gardens Dublin on 19, 20, 21, 22 October 2023, and 18, 19, 20 October 2024, 1pm daily.
Part II tells the stories of FannyAnn Eddy (1974-2004), LGBTIQ+ activist, Sierra Leone; Daphne Caruana, (1964-2017), journalist, columnist and blogger, Malta; Rosemary Nelson, (1958-1999), human rights lawyer, Northern Ireland; Marielle Franco (1979-2018), human rights activist and elected council woman, Brazil; and Teresa Magueyal (1958 – 2023), woman searcher of disappeared people and a human rights defender, Mexico. Part II was performed at the Iveagh Gardens Dublin on 10, 11 and 12 October 2025, 1 and 3pm daily.
The show is scripted to be presented either indoors or outdoors. As an outdoor show, it is presented as a promenade, ‘walk-in-the-park’ performance blending theatre, poetry, and song. This unique show brings audiences through the Iveagh Gardens (Dublin’s secret garden, located close to St Stephen’s Green) to the Human Rights Defenders Memorial monument. The memorial provides a physical space in the heart of Dublin city to recognise and commemorate the lives of the many brave and inspirational human rights defenders around the world who have been killed because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others. Leading audiences through Dublin’s hidden garden, the performance creates a moving encounter with memory, loss, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of those who stood for justice.
The show was commissioned by Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders and scripted by Mary Moynihan to pay tribute to the many brave and inspirational human rights defenders around the world who have been silence and killed because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others.
Speaker Biographies:
Mary Moynihan, MA, she/her, is an award-winning author of novels, poetry, films and plays, from Dublin, Ireland. Mary embarked upon her award-winning career as a writer in theatre and film and has garnered much acclaim for her plays, poetry and short film scripts, and for creating interdisciplinary artworks combining writing and photography presented in galleries and online. She established and became Artistic Director of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and is Artistic Curator for the annual Dublin Arts and Human Rights festival. Mary has an honours BA in Drama and Theatre Studies from Trinity College Dublin and an honours Masters in Film Production from TU Dublin.
After raising four children, now adults, Mary dedicated her time to becoming a writer. She writes fiction for young people and adults featuring stories of courage, laughter, tragedy, happiness, love, death and action-packed adventures. Mary pens a series of articles titled Creative Reflections on Arts, Creativity, Leadership and Self-Esteem which appear in the Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality newsletter and on Mary’s website marymoynihan.ie
In her free time Mary loves to spend time with her four adult children and hang out with friends. She swims in the sea all year round. She loves the ocean, sky and moon and has a spiritual connection to the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea, to the environs of Dublin bay and to the mystical landscapes of Valentia Island and the surrounding Iveragh peninsula in County Kerry, her spiritual home. She is a big fan of the Dublin Gaelic football and hurling teams.
Smashing Times
Mary is Artistic Director of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality working collaboratively with artists and over fifty organisations across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Europe and internationally, using the arts to promote rights and values for all. Company patrons are Sabina Higgins; Joan Freeman, founder of Pieta House; Ger Ryan, actor and Tim Pat Coogan, writer and historian. Founding patrons were writers Maeve Binchy and Brian Friel.
Arts and Human Rights Festival
Mary is Artistic Curator for the annual, international Dublin Arts and Human Rights festival implemented by Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders with Amnesty International, Fighting Words, ICCL, NWCI, Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Trócaire, Poetry Ireland and Irish Pen, and funded by The Arts Council. The festival highlights the extraordinary work of human rights defenders in Ireland and around the world, past and present, and the role of the arts and artists in promoting human rights today.
Awards
Mary’s work has won a number of awards, including the Allianz Business to Arts Special Judges DAA Arts Award at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, the international and prestigious #ArtsAgainstCovid award from the Arts in Health International Foundation and an Arts Council Agility Award. Mary was awarded a Project Award from The Arts Council to write a new work with a range of collaborators titled The Feeling Soul, inspired by stories of women poets from ancient and modern Ireland.
Mary is the author of the epic spoken word poem ‘Ode to a Coolock Queen’’, written from a female perspective and exploring identity, gender, violence, passion, self-destruction and possible redemption. An attempt as Sylvia Plath says ‘to be true to my own weirdnesses’. It is an oral storytelling narrative that is about a broader reflection on what it is to be born out of a working class environment. This poem is in homage to all people from working-class communities who find their strength and become their own kings and queens like warriors from an ancient past.
As a playwright, Mary’s work includes the highly acclaimed The Woman is Present: Women’s Stories of WWII co-written with Paul Kennedy, Fiona Thompson and Féilim James; Tales of Love and Loss featuring two monologues selected by President Michael D Higgins for performance at Áras an Uachtaráin, Constance and Her Friends and Grace and Joe for performance in 2023; In One Breath from the award-winning Testimonies(co-written with Paul Kennedy); Shadow of My Soul and May Our Faces Haunt You.
Mary’s film work includes the hour-long documentary Stories From the Shadows (co-directed with Mark Quinn); the short film Tell Them Our Names, (directed by Mary, co-written with Paul Kennedy) inspired by women’s stories of WWII and selected for the London Eye International Film Festival and Kerry Film Festival; the creative documentary Women in an Equal Europe; the short film Courageous Women, inspired by powerful women’s stories from the 1916 to 1923 decade of commemorations period in Irish history; In Time, a poem-film created in response to the changing landscape of our world today in a time of pandemic (written by Mary Moynihan, co-directed with Mark Quinn); and The Shoah: A Survivor’s Memory – The World’s Legacy, adapted from the writings of French woman Simone Veil (1927-2017), a French lawyer, politician and feminist, Holocaust survivor and first female President of the European Parliament.
Mary has a focus on using historical memory in her artistic practice as inspiration for the creation of original artworks. A number of her writings highlight stories of ordinary yet extraordinary women who stood up for the rights of others with a focus on the Holocaust, WWII and the revolutionary period in Irish history.
Conor Fortune joined Front Line Defenders in September 2022. As Head of Communications and Events, he oversees the organisation’s global communications strategy, with a focus on supporting the public profiles of human rights defenders. Prior to this, Conor spent 11 years at Amnesty International’s International Secretariat, where he served as deputy director of crisis response and deputy head of news and media, and he has also held communications roles at Human Rights Watch and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. A journalist by training, he has an M.A. in international relations/peace studies, is fluent in Spanish and speaks some French and Portuguese.
Born in Montpellier, France, to a Belgian father and an English mother, Sebastien Luthers’ family moved to Leitrim when he was six years old. He started learning the whistle at around age six or seven and later progressed to the fiddle, with Michael Clancy in Leitrim, the man known as ‘the man of a thousand reels’.
From those beginnings, Sebastien’s love of music has blossomed. He currently teaches French and English in Wilson’s Hospital School as well as promoting extra-curricular music participation for students, and is founder of Franco-Hibernian folk group CAS.
Sebastien’s album, The Lost Violin, is a collection of tunes he wrote over the last 20 years inspired by the landscape of Leitrim and the Auvergne volcanic peaks, where he lived and toured with a Celtic rock band Oubert . The name of the album relates to a custom-made instrument by renowned fiddle maker and All-Ireland champion Jim McKillop. It was stolen from Sebastien in Barcelona in 2013, and serendipitously found and returned to him over 10 years later.
The Lost Violin is for sale on Bandcamp and selected outlets, along with his band CAS’ debut album, Tonnta na Maidine, which was released on tour in the UK, Ireland and France during summer 2026.
Ciara Hayes is a graduate of University College Cork with an MA in Arts Management and Creative Producing. She also holds a teaching diploma from the London College of Music in Drama and Communication, and a BA Joint Hons in Drama and Theatre Studies with German. She has a background in theatre and worked for several years as a drama teacher, later becoming a teacher of social skills for children on the autism spectrum.
Since completing her Masters in 2020, Ciara has worked as a producer and festival administrator for Half Moon Festival (Cork, 2020) and festival producer for Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival (Dublin, 2020 – present). She works at Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality as the festival producer, and also works at UCC as a part-time lecturer on the MA Arts Management & Cultural Producing.
Organisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):
