Cultural depictions of Charles Haughey

The Irish politician and former Taoiseach Charles Haughey has been depicted in culture many times, across radio, television, novels, and theatre.

Scrap Saturday

Haughey's image during his final years in office was influenced heavily by Dermot Morgan's depiction of him on the satirical radio programme Scrap Saturday (1989–1991). Dialogues with P. J. Mara, played by Owen Roe, portrayed Haughey as venal and vain; they were described by Patrick Maume as "an absurd and toothless ogre berating an obsequious P. J. Mara".[1] Helena Sheehan wrote that the sketches "provided a picture of Charles Haughey which instinctively seemed far truer than that of his public persona". Scrap Saturday hinted at Haughey's affair with Terry Keane before it was public knowledge.[2] Morgan later said that a friend of the Haughey family had contacted the programme asking them not to joke about Keane.[3]

Television

A three-part television drama, Charlie, covering Haughey's career between 1979 and 1992, was broadcast by RTÉ in 2015, with Aidan Gillen in the title role. Gillen's depiction of Haughey was praised for its accuracy, but the series was criticised for omitting the Arms Crisis.[4][5]

Novels

Haughey appears as a character in Ratlines, the 2012 thriller novel by Stuart Neville, which is set in 1960s Ireland. He is depicted as "an arrogant and preening Minister for Justice".[6]

Theatre

Hugh Leonard wrote a black comedy play, Kill (1982), whose central politician character is a thinly disguised version of Haughey.[7] Sebastian Barry's Hinterland (2002) is about a retired Irish politician living in a Georgian mansion in north Dublin who shares numerous biographical details with Haughey. The play was criticised being for too personal, but Barry later said the protagonist was based on his own father.[7][8] John Breen's play Charlie (2003) is explicitly about Haughey, and features flashbacks to the pivotal moments of his career.[9] A 2018 play written by Colin Murphy, Haughey/Gregory, was produced by Fishamble: The New Play Company. It depicts the circumstances of Haughey's 1982 deal with independent TD Tony Gregory, and was later broadcast by RTÉ Radio.[10]

References

  1. ^ Maume, Patrick. "Haughey, Charles James (C.J.)". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  2. ^ Sheehan, Helena (1992). "The Parameters of the Permissible: How Scrap Saturday Got Away With It". Irish Communication Review. 2 (1): 75.
  3. ^ Jackson, Joe (1995). "Don't make me laugh!". Hot Press. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  4. ^ Murtagh, Peter (12 January 2015). "Charlie review: A bored contempt for everyone - truly Haughey". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  5. ^ Arnold, Bruce (18 January 2015). "Charlie: 'The drama reduced him to a limp, facile, vulgar and vicious political creature'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Torture, Nazi gold and CJ Haughey – there is no escape in this gritty thriller". Irish Independent. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  7. ^ a b Roche, Anthony (2009). "The stuff of tragedy?: Representations of Irish political leaders in the 'Haughey' plays of Carr, Barry and Breen". Irish Literature Since 1990: Diverse Voices.
  8. ^ Collins, Liam (1 May 2005). "Barry's play was based on author's dad, not on CJH". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  9. ^ Fricker, Karen (25 April 2003). "Charlie". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Haughey/Gregory: Colin Murphy's acclaimed play comes to RTÉ". RTÉ. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
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