Translations

by Brian Friel

The backdrop of Brian Friel’s play Translations is the arrival of the British army to make maps of Ireland, starting with Co Donegal in the north. Meanwhile, in a makeshift school Hugh O’Donnell continues to teach pupils of all ages and abilities: from Jimmy, an old man who influent in classical languages, to Maire, a young woman who wants to learn English. The action accelerates when Hugh’s son, Owen, returns. He introduces two British officers, then reveals that he’s working with them, helping to explain Irish place-names and formulate their English translations

Established in 1791, the Ordnance Survey was intended to map Britain in response to fears of French invasion. By 1824, the needs for maps were civil, not military. Indeed, much of what Captain Lancey says in Act One is historically accurate:

• The mapping was to address inequalities in taxation.