George Sheils
George Shiels
The playwright George Shiels (1881-1949) came to live and write in Carnlough in 1932, he was born at Ballybrakes, Ballymoney in 1881 and later emigrated to Canada where he took up employment with the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Through this he experienced work in the lumber camps of both America and Canada which he would later write about in his early works. A serious accident at work in 1913 led to him being hospitalized and his legs becoming paralyzed which confined him to a wheelchair. During his convalescence in and out of the hospital, he began reading and also followed a correspondence course in literature.
Eventually he returned to Ballymoney and with help from the Canadian Pacific Railroad opened a shipping business on Main Street, and at the same time began his writing career. After writing about his experiences in Canada and America, he then changed the focus of his writing and started to be recognized and accepted by the Ulster Literary Theatre and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin with whom he had a long relationship from 1921 when his 'Bedmates' was performed, this relationship continued until his passing in 1949.
Around thirty of his plays were performed by the Abbey Theatre. In 1930 his play the 'New Gassoon' was so well received by the Abbey Theatre that it would have three limited runs on Broadway, 1932, 1934 and 1937. His writing and performance of work allowed him to leave the business in Ballymoney and moved to Carnlough in 1932 where he continued to write and enjoy the local environment. in 1940 his work the 'Rugged Road' attracted a record number of theatre-goers to the Abbey Theatre.
George Shiels was a very modest man who was identified as one of Ireland's best-loved playwrights and one of the Abbey Theatre's most successful writers of comedy. A blue plaque at Shingle Cove marks where his home ‘New Lodge’ used to be, his modesty as an individual and writer is reflected in his refusal of an honorary degree from Queens University and also membership of the Irish Academy of Letters. He passed away in September, 1949 and is buried in the Church of Our Lady and St Patrick at Ballymoney.