Following the play, as part of the experience John invites community leaders and audience to join in a post-show discussion around themes drawn from the play. As part of the event and to encourage local community engagement, students from TUDublin have curated the panel, where audience members will be invited to give their thoughts and feedback.
Ireland’s Call is a gripping drama, performed by John Connors that follows the journey of a young man growing up on Dublin’s Northside. Told through a series of characters and turning points – from childhood to prison – the story explores the roots of class-based oppression, addiction, and generational trauma. It’s a sharp examination of masculinity, institutional neglect, and the choices facing those raised in the margins of modern Ireland.
Discussion Facilitator – Mo O’Connell
Mo is an accomplished & multi-award-winning filmmaker and the founder of the production company 3 Hot Whiskeys. With a body of work spanning over a decade, she has directed, written and produced both short and feature films that
foreground character, emotion, and social commentary—often through bold visual language. In recent news, Mo directed a reading of Gabriel Graves new play “Anhedonia” for AboutFace Theatre Company’s new
play reading festival ‘NewVember’ at the Civic Theatre 11th November 2025. – ‘Horseshoe’ the feature that Mo co-produced had its IFTA screening and Q&A on Tuesday 11th November 2025. – Mo received a nomination in the
TrailblazHer Awards in the Future Leader Category in November 2025. – In August 2025, Mo took part as a judge on the panel for the Virgin Media Short Film Awards. Mo is an alumni of the Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Producing Course ratified by TU Dublin & Screen Ireland. She is also an award-winning actor with a BA in Acting from RADA, London where she also won the Henry Marshall Award for Outstanding Performance in her second year of training. In 2020, Mo founded the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival which she began online due to Covid. It was a great success and she now hosts it in person each year in November/December. The next edition takes place at 3 Hot Whiskeys Headquarters in the historic Tailors Hall, Dublin 8, from 27th to 30th November 2025.
Panellist- Leah Whelan local activist
Leah is 28 years old socialist feminist activist and teacher from Tallaght. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Irish, and a Masters of Science in Equality Studies. For many years she has worked locally with different groups, organisations, and activists on a range of issues impacting regular communities form housing, women’s rights, anti-racism, and Palestine – to name a few. She previously worked as a parliamentary assistant in Dáil Éireann and was the youngest councillor on the South Dublin County Council at the time. Leah is a passionate Gaeilgeoir and advocate for the Irish language locally and nationally. Leah fights for the rights of the working class, and all oppressed people, hoping to bring about transformative change through collective organising in our communities and workplaces.
Panellist- Barry Dempsey Jigsaw Youth & Community Engagement Worker
Having worked extensively across social care for over 25 years from disability, addiction, residential care, homelessness and prisons work Barry is passionate about youth mental health and early intervention. According to Barry – “The more we listen and encourage help-seeking the more we normalise mental health, and reduce stigma one conversation at a time”
Jonathan Smith Café owner and Co-founder of Blue Balls Ireland
Jonathan Smith is the owner of Ernesto’s Coffee & Artisan Foods (often simply “Ernesto’s”) on Rathgar Road, Rathmines, Dublin. The café has a distinct Cuban-inflected vibe (even naming the place “Ernesto” perhaps referencing the Cuban revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara). He also engages in community and creative events his café space is used for music, gatherings, etc. Jonathan himself is also an open-water sea swimmer in the Dublin area, and has spoken about resilience, community etc in that context. Fundraising / charitable work, According to the Irish Times article, Jonathan runs “a small charity bringing musical instruments to Cuban children. In his café and via his personal networks, he has supported young people in Ireland for example, the article about the rapper Coolio records that Jonathan said “The café here has an affinity with helping out young people. Young people in the city and young people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds from prison and so forth”.
According to Niamh Honer from The Civic, “We are really looking forward to this post-show event, where the audience can engage with creator John Connors and the panel to discuss the play’s themes. We sincerely thank Patricia Medcalf and Hilda Buton for facilitating this valuable experiential learning opportunity for the students and greatly appreciate their input. Come along and support them on the night!”
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