Reverend Charles Massey v Lord Headford

An extraordinary legal case heard in Ennis more than 220 years ago is now the subject of a new play by playwright and former UCC lecturer Derry Cotter. The case dates back to 1804 and involved Reverend Charles Massy, whose wife Mary Anne eloped to England with the Marquis of Headfort, Thomas Taylour. Reverend Massy subsequently brought a legal action against the Marquis for what was then known as 'criminal conversation' – essentially adultery – and was awarded damages of £10,000, the equivalent of approximately €1.3 million in today's money. But behind the scandalous headlines was a much bigger story about the treatment of women, marriage and the law in Ireland. Derry has written a play recreating the events and is now hoping to find a theatre company in Clare interested in staging the production. He joined Derrick Lynch to tell us about this remarkable piece of local history and the story behind his play.