George Shiels facts for kids

George Shiels (born June 24, 1881 – died September 19, 1949) was a famous Irish writer who created plays. His plays were very popular in his home region of Ulster and also at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Some of his most well-known plays include The Rugged Path, The Passing Day, and The New Gossoon.

The Story of George Shiels

George Shiels was born in Ballymoney, County Antrim, to Robert Shiels and Eileen MacSweeney. When he was a young man, he moved to Canada. He worked on building the Canadian Pacific Railway.

In 1913, George had a serious accident while working. This accident meant he had to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. After this, he returned to Ballymoney.

Back home, he started a shipping company with his brother. Around this time, he also began to write. He first wrote poems and short stories. Soon, he started writing plays. He gave these plays to the Ulster Literary Theatre. He used a special writing name, called a pen name, which was George S. Morsheils.

George Shiels' Popular Plays

The Abbey Theatre began to accept his plays regularly. His first play accepted was Bedmates in 1921. His play The New Gossoon (written in 1930) was very successful.

The Abbey Theatre's touring group, called The Abbey Theatre Irish Players, even took The New Gossoon to Broadway in New York City. They performed it there three times: in 1932, 1934, and 1937.

In 1940, another of Shiels' plays, The Rugged Path, set a record at the Abbey Theatre. Over eight weeks, 25,000 people came to watch it! This shows how popular his plays were.

Because his plays were so successful, George Shiels was able to leave the shipping business. He moved to Carnlough on the coast of County Antrim. He lived there from 1932 until he passed away in 1949.

What Did George Shiels Write?

Here are some of the plays George Shiels wrote:

• Moodie in Manitoba (1918)
• Away from the Moss (1918)
• Felix Reid and Bob (or The Simpleston) (1919)
• The Tame Drudge (or The Drudge) (1920)
• Bedmates (1921)
• Insurance Money (1921)
• Paul Twyning (1922)
• First Aid (1923)
• The Retrievers (1924)
• Professor Tim (1925) - This play was later made into a movie in 1957.
• Cartney & Kevney (1927)
• Mountain Dew (1929)
• The New Gossoon (1930) - This play was also made into a movie called Sally's Irish Rogue in 1958.
• Grogan and the Ferret (1933)
• The Passing Day (1936)
• The Jailbird (1936)
• Quin's Secret (1937)
• Neal Maquade (1938) - This play was later changed and called Macook's Corner in 1942.
• Give Him a House (1939)
• The Rugged Path (1940)
• The Summit (1941)
• The Fort Field (1942)
• The New Regime (1944)
• The Old Broom (1944)
• Tenants at Will (or The Brink of Famine) (1945)
• Borderwine (1946)
• Mountain Post (1948)
• The Caretakers (1948)
• Slave Drivers
• Tully's Experts