Counting Swans

A Play by Conor Montague

Performed by Kieran Kelliher and Conor Montague

Would you kill for a friend? Would you kill your best friend? Do you have what it takes?

Former All-Star hurler, Martin ‘The Butcher’ Molloy, is defined by courage, weakened by loss, haunted by failure. The death of his wife, Sarah, after a prolonged battle with cancer forces confrontation with an old friend and inspires a journey through the murky recesses of grief in search of answers, forgiveness and a new beginning.

Counting Swans descends deep into the dark to retrieve slivers of light from within the despair of a broken hero. The challenges of love, friendship, courage and assisted dying are just some of the topics dwelt upon over the course of a dialogue that mixes tears with laughter, despondency with hope, and croquet with hurling.

‘Counting swans is a beautiful excavation of one man coming to terms with grief and his past. Montague understands these hard men, GAA lads who, given the chance, are actually full of self knowledge and emotion. Funny but tough, full of feeling but unsentimental. This is a beautifully judged piece. Highly recommended.’ – Eugene O’Brien