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The McGee! Project

The McGee! Project. by Padraig Finlay. Prepared for Canadian Association of Irish Studies Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia 21, May, 2010. Tara Players Theatre of Ottawa. Outline. McGee’s Chronology McGee’s Obituary, Threats, Relationships Project Challenges, Elements, Team

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The McGee! Project

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  1. The McGee! Project byPadraig Finlay Prepared for Canadian Association of Irish Studies Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia 21, May, 2010 Tara Players Theatre of Ottawa

  2. Outline • McGee’s Chronology • McGee’s Obituary, Threats, Relationships • Project Challenges, Elements, Team • Project Schedule • References, Websites • Discussion

  3. Chronology (1) • 1825, April 13, Born Ireland (Carlingford Lough, County Louth) • 1842, April 7, Sailed from Ireland (Wexford) to Canada (Quebec City), on to United States (Rhode Island, Boston) • 1845, Returned to Ireland, England (London) • 1848, Escaped to United States after “Young Irelanders” uprising (Boston, Buffalo, etc)

  4. Chronology (2) • 1857, Moved to Canada (Montreal). The New Era Journal.Elected Member of Parliament • 1862, Appointed President of the Council • 1864, Appointed Minister Agriculture, Immigration and Statistics • 1864, Toured Maritimes, Member of Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences • 1866, Member of London Conference

  5. Chronology (3) • 1867, July 1, British North America Act proclaimed - Dominion of Canada • Not appointed to John A MacDonald’s Cabinet. • 1868, April 7, Assassinated, Spark’s Street, Ottawa • 1868, April 13, Buried, Cotes des Neiges Cemetery, Montreal

  6. Obituary • Journalist and Editor • Writer and Poet • Lecturer and Orator • Political Figure • Roman Catholic • Family Man • Human Being

  7. Threats • British Government • American Nativists • Catholic Church • Orange Lodge • Fenians

  8. Relationships • Mother - died when eight years old • Aunt Bella - Providence, Rhode Island • Mrs. Mary Anne Sadlier - publisher • Mary Teresa (Caffrey) - wife • Children - Peggy and F(r)asa, three died • John A Macdonald - ally? and Prime Minister • George Brown - Conservative, ally? • Patrick James Whelan - Assassin?

  9. McGee! Project Challenges (1) • How to convey Thomas D’Arcy McGee ? • Historical documentation vs probabilities • Creative drama, conflicts vs exposition of facts • Different audiences - students (elementary, high school, university, mature), general public (many different demographics) • Media options - print, lectures, theatre, audio, video, big screenings, Internet, YouTube, PDAs

  10. McGee! Project Challenges (2) • Combination of techniques - narrative, print, posters, audio, visual, theatre, film, video -Web, “Be Googlable” to be…or not to be • Attention span of audiences (1 to50 minutes) • Time, Money • Objectives (many!) • Be informative, instructive, stimulating, humourous, entertaining

  11. McGee! Project Elements • Videos - Demonstration, Final • Website - www.mcgeeproject.com • Music – Compact Disc (CD) and Concerts by Frank Cassidy and James Stephens, and friends • Exhibitions - Digital, Poster Displays • Documents - Student Guides, Teacher Plans, etc. • Fund Raising

  12. McGee! Core Team • Padraig Finlay - Producer, Writer, Actor • Robert and Brenda Rooney - Video Production • Miles Finlayson – Cinematographer • Janet Irwin - Dramaturge, Acting Coach • David Wilson - Historical Advisor • Frank Edwards - Educational Consultant • Selena Karkash - Website Manager • Mary Hogan-Finlay – Life Mate, Coach

  13. McGee! Project Schedule • Phase 1 - Completed • One man theatre show at • Comhaltas Ceolteoiri Eireann Convention • Music CD “In Honour of Life & Times of TDMcG” • Phase 2 - Work in Progress • Demonstration Video (Completed) • Website (Launched) • Workshops, Focus Groups, Feedback (Ongoing) • Phase 3 - Content and Timing? - It depends!

  14. References • Wilson, David A., “Thomas D’Arcy McGee, Volume 1, Passion, Reason and Politics, 1825-1857”: McGill-Queen’s University Press • Slattery, T.P., “The Assassination of D’Arcy McGee”, Toronto: Doubleday 1968 • Slattery, T.P., “They Got to Find Mee Guilty Yet”. Toronto: Doubleday 1972

  15. Websites • www.mcgeeproject.com • http://taraplayers.ncf.ca • http://www.rooneyproductions.com/main.htm • www.endlessroadproductions.com • www.mcgeemusic.ca • http://www.hedgehogproductions.com/

  16. Discussion • Viewing of Demonsration Video • Comments, Questions, Answers • Suggestions • Contact • Padraig Finlay • pgfinlay@gmail.com • 613 291 5810

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