The 100-Year-Old Backstop

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Following the formation of Northern Ireland in 1921, the Boundary Commission was created to decide on the precise delineation of the border between the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. The governments of the United Kingdom, the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland were allowed to nominate one member each to the commission. Eventually Justice Richard Feetham of South Africa was appointed by the British Government as Chairman, Eoin MacNeill, Minister for Education, was appointed by the Irish Free State Government and Joseph R. Fisher, a Unionist newspaper editor, author and barrister was appointed by the British government to represent the Northern Ireland government. These three men embarked on a tour along the border, meeting with concerned locals across the province, before facing the seemingly impossible task of redrawing the contentious border which stretched over 300 miles, cutting through communities, roads and even homes. The Writers Michael Patrick & Oisín Kearney wrote the play ‘My Left Nut’ which they also adapted as a BBC Three series in 2020. Their recent play ‘The Alternative’ was the winner of Fishamble’s A Play for Ireland initiative. They were also part of BBC Writersroom’s ‘Belfast Voices’ 2019 development scheme. Richard Feetham ….. Paul Kennedy Joseph R Fisher ….. Martin Maguire Eoin MacNeill ….. Patrick FitzSymons Theresa ….. Abigail McGibbon Trimble ….. Dan Gordon O’Neill ….. Francis Mezza Baldwin ….. Richard Croxford Healy ….. Seamus O’Hara Reporter ….. Michael Patrick Writers ..... Michael Patrick & Oisín Kearney Producer ..... Michael Shannon Executive Editor ….. Andy Martin