Subtitled a 'Hopeful Tale of Heroin, Hooking and Happiness', writer and performer Mary Goggin's autobiographical one-woman show The Runaway Princess comes to this year's Galway Fringe from July 23rd-28th.
Below, Mary writes for Culture about her wild life and times, and how she lived to tell the tale...
In the beginning there was Eddie Goggin, my dad, who hailed from Scarth, just outside of Schull. When he immigrated to America he drove a bus in New York City, yet he could not read or write. A man of letters who, in the true Homeric oral tradition, passed on to me the poems and songs of his youth. And yet, a man of few words – the greatest of which was "love" – he loved me unconditionally. He is the sole reason I survived to tell the tale of The Runaway Princess.
In my family, if there was a feeling in the room, you killed it. Keep the secrets, hide the truth, bury it. My mother was stoic. Her greatest gift to me was sending me away to keep me alive, to the nuns in Cork, Dublin and The Hotel California in Santa Monica, California. She physically kept me alive. But Eddie Goggin – he spoke loudest to me. He who had no voice, other than his songs and poems. His favorite was Skibbereen. No wonder I have abandonment issues.
I have always known I needed to write my story, to heal myself and others.
Coming from a very different culture, I was not prepared for puberty in New York's 1960s. I had a shrink tell me my adventures were a "massive reaction to sexual repression." When I turned twelve all hell broke loose and I ran. I do have some decorum…I didn’t wear my Cork Jersey while working at the Mustang Ranch. No spoilers here. Oh that’s right… it’s in the tag line.
I still have family who refuse to see my "scandalous" work, The Runaway Princess. Some have walked out. That’s cool. It ain't easy being the truth-teller. It gets lonely sometimes. I once dated a guy after he saw the show and he just assumed I was into S&M.
When asked what I did before I started acting I say, "I drank". That’s it, with no questions asked, there is complete understanding. That’s one of the things I love about being an actor.
In my family, if there was a feeling in the room, you killed it. Keep the secrets, hide the truth, bury it.
I decided instead of being at the mercy of a casting agent, I would write my own stuff. I am instinctual… I am a healer. I have always known I needed to write my story, to heal myself and others. Now, being on the other side of addiction hell, I’m sharing my secrets and I realize when I did that, I got better and stronger. It gives others permission to share theirs, and heal – maybe even giving other addicted women permission to write their lives. I am told I am brave, it’s kinda just who I am.
When I was little I wanted to be an archeologist, digging for the truth. That’s what I do. Also, I did not want to be on my deathbed saying, "I wish I had".
Oh, and Sister Mary Bridget, wherever you are: I am sorry for robbing the Sisters of Mercy cashbox. Nothing personal! I loved Rosscarbery, especially your elocution class. It came in real handy. Thank you.
The Runaway Princess is at the Galway Fringe from July 23rd-28th - find out more here.
