SIVE Large Print Format Paperback

A story of greed, sex and bitterness, of a scheming matchmaker and a resentful woman forcing a beautiful young girl to marry an old man for money. Large Text Edition

I put everything into the writing of the play. For me, writing the final scene was one of the most profound moments of my life, and I found myself overwhelmed by emotion … John B. Keane Powerful and provocative, Sive is a story of greed and bitterness, of a scheming matchmaker and a resentful woman forcing a beautiful young girl to marry an old man. Set against the harsh poverty and difficult times of 1950s Ireland, Sive caused considerable controversy on its debut in February 1959. Since then it has become an established part of Ireland’s theatrical canon. This new edition features notes written by secondary school English teacher and daughter of John B. Keane, Joanna Keane O’Flynn.

Large Text Edition: Sive is a young and beautiful orphan who lives with her uncle Mike, his wife Mena and his mother Nanna. A local matchmaker, Thomasheen Seán Rua, wants Sive to marry an old man called Sean Dóta. Thomasheen convinces Mike and Mena to organise the marriage. They will receive a sum of two hundred pounds as soon as she marries him. However, Sive is in love with a young man, Liam Scuab. But Liam is not suitable and is refused permission to marry Sive. Sive is distraught but is forced to do the will of her uncle and his bitter wife. Faced with an unthinkable future she takes the only choice left to her. Set against the harsh poverty and difficult times of 1950s Ireland, Sive caused considerable controversy on its debut in February 1959. Since then it has become an established part of Ireland's theatrical canon.