Seán O'Casey Commemorative Coin Launch

CBI Press Releases

Published March 30th, 2026

Detected March 30th, 2026

Summary

The Central Bank of Ireland launched a commemorative silver proof coin honouring playwright Seán O'Casey on what would have been his 146th birthday. The coin commemorates the 100th anniversary of The Plough and the Stars premiere at the Abbey Theatre, with 3,000 coins available at €90 each.

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What changed

The Central Bank of Ireland issued a commemorative coin celebrating Seán O'Casey and the centenary of his play The Plough and the Stars. The silver proof coin, designed by PJ Lynch, was released on 30 March 2026 at 1pm through collectorcoins.ie. A total of 3,000 coins are available at €90 each, with Governor Gabriel Makhlouf presenting the first coin to O'Casey's daughter Shivaun at the Abbey Theatre launch.

This is a commemorative product announcement rather than a regulatory measure. There are no compliance obligations, deadlines, or penalties associated with this coin launch. Parties interested in purchasing the coin may do so through the official collectorcoins.ie website. The coin is explicitly designated as not intended for general circulation.

Source document (simplified)

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Central Bank of Ireland launches commemorative coin honouring playwright Seán O'Casey

30 March 2026 Press Release

Central Bank of Ireland today launched a commemorative coin celebrating the life and work of renowned Irish playwright Seán O'Casey, on what would have been his 146 th birthday. It marks the 100th anniversary of the inaugural performance of his masterpiece The Plough and the Stars at the Abbey Theatre.

The silver proof coin will go on sale today (Monday 30 March 2026) at 1pm on www.collectorcoins.ie. Designed by PJ Lynch, there are just 3,000 coins available, and they will retail at €90.

Governor Gabriel Makhlouf presented the coin to Seán O'Casey's daughter Shivaun during a launch at the Abbey Theatre attended by the O'Casey family and the current cast of the production, marking a fitting tribute to one of Ireland's most significant dramatic works.

The premiere of The Plough and the Stars took place at the Abbey Theatre in 1926, less than ten years after the Easter Rising of 1916. Flawlessly weaving comedy with tragedy, the play tells the story of ordinary lives torn apart by the idealism of the time. This O'Casey masterpiece is a classic of human and political theatre which continues to resonate today.

Governor Gabriel Makhlouf said: "Seán O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars remains one of the most powerful and enduring works in Irish theatre. A century on from its premiere, O'Casey's unflinching portrayal of how political upheaval affects ordinary people continues to speak to audiences. This commemorative coin honours O'Casey's artistic genius and the Central Bank is proud to mark this significant cultural anniversary."

The Plough and the Stars is running in the Abbey Theatre until 30 April 2026 in an exciting new production directed by Tom Creed.

Further information

Elaine Scanlon – [email protected] 087 213 6313

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

Proof coins are collectable coins and are not intended for general circulation. They are minted using specially polished dies and blanks that give them a mirror-like finish.

Every year the Central Bank issues a number of collector coin products, on behalf of the Minister for Finance. The Collector Coin Advisory Group advises the Bank in relation to coin themes. The Central Bank invites public submissions in relation to themes.