Irish playwright Seán O'Casey honoured with commemorative coin
The Central Bank of Ireland has launched a commemorative coin celebrating playwright Seán O'Casey on his 146th birthday. The coin marks the 100th anniversary of his play 'The Plough and the Stars' premiere at the Abbey Theatre.
Coin celebrates O'Casey's legacy
The Central Bank of Ireland has launched a silver proof commemorative coin honouring playwright Seán O'Casey on his 146th birthday.
Designed by PJ Lynch, the coin marks the 100th anniversary of the inaugural performance of O'Casey's masterpiece 'The Plough and the Stars' at the Abbey Theatre.
Only 3,000 of these collector coins are available for purchase at €90 each, going on sale today, March 30, 2026, at 1pm on collectorcoins.ie.
Governor Gabriel Makhlouf presented the coin to O'Casey's daughter, Shivaun, during a launch event at the Abbey Theatre.
Makhlouf emphasized the enduring power of O'Casey's work, noting its unflinching portrayal of how political upheaval affects ordinary people, which continues to resonate with audiences a century after its premiere.
The coin serves as a tribute to O'Casey's artistic genius and the cultural significance of this anniversary.
A play's enduring relevance
The play 'The Plough and the Stars' premiered at the Abbey Theatre in 1926, less than ten years after the 1916 Easter Rising.
It is celebrated for its blend of comedy and tragedy, depicting ordinary lives impacted by the era's idealism, and remains a significant work of human and political theatre.
The commemorative coin is a 'proof coin,' a collectible not intended for general circulation, distinguished by its mirror-like finish achieved through specially polished dies.
The Central Bank of Ireland issues these collector coin products annually on behalf of the Minister for Finance.
A new production of 'The Plough and the Stars' is currently running at the Abbey Theatre until April 30, 2026.