The Central Bank of Ireland has launched a commemorative coin celebrating the life and work of renowned Irish playwright Seán O'Casey.
The coin, that was designed by Irish artist PJ Lynch, has been released on what would have been his 146th birthday.
It marks the 100th anniversary of the inaugural performance of his masterpiece The Plough and the Stars at the Abbey Theatre.
The silver proof coin will that retails at €90 goes on sale today at 1pm on collectorcoins.ie. , and there are just 3,000 coins available.
Governor Gabriel Makhlouf presented the coin to Seán O'Casey's daughter Shivaun during a launch at the Abbey Theatre attended by the O'Casey family and the current cast of the production, marking a fitting tribute to one of Ireland's most significant dramatic works.
The premiere of The Plough and the Stars took place at the Abbey Theatre in 1926, less than ten years after the Easter Rising of 1916.
Flawlessly weaving comedy with tragedy, the play tells the story of ordinary lives torn apart by the idealism of the time.
The bank said this O'Casey masterpiece is a classic of human and political theatre which continues to resonate today.
Governor Gabriel Makhlouf said: "Seán O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars remains one of the most powerful and enduring works in Irish theatre. A century on from its premiere, O'Casey's unflinching portrayal of how political upheaval affects ordinary people continues to speak to audiences.
"This commemorative coin honours O'Casey's artistic genius and the Central Bank is proud to mark this significant cultural anniversary."
The Plough and the Stars is running in the Abbey Theatre until 30 April 2026 in a new production directed by Tom Creed.
