An agent was fired at on the road from Athenry, and some men were taken up on suspicion. One of them was a young carpenter from my old home, and in a little time a rumour was put about that he had informed against the others in Galway gaol. When the prisoners were taken across the bridge to the courthouse he was hooted by the crowd. But at the trial it was found that he had not informed, that no evidence had been given at all; and bonfires were lighted for him as he went home. These three incidents coming within a few months wove themselves into this little play, and within three days it had written itself, or been written. I like it better than any in the volume, and I have never changed a word of it. FIRST PRODUCTIONS OF THE PLAYS SPREADING THE NEWS was produced for the first time at the opening of the Abbey Theatre, on Tuesday, 27th December, 1904, with the following cast: _Bartley Fallon_ W. G. FAY _Mrs. Fallon_ SARA ALGOOD _Mrs. Tully_ EMMA VERNON _Mrs. Tarpey_ MAIRE NI GHARBHAIGH _Shawn Early_ J. H. DUNNE _Tim Casey_ GEORGE ROBERTS _James Ryan_ ARTHUR SINCLAIR _Jack Smith_ P. MACSUIBHLAIGH _A Policeman_ R. S. NASH _A Removable Magistrate_ F. J. FAY HYACINTH HALVEY was first produced at the Abbey Theatre on 19th February, 1906, with the following cast: _Hyacinth Halvey_ F. J. FAY _James Quirke, a butcher_ W. G. FAY _Fardy Farrell, a telegraph boy_ ARTHUR SINCLAIR _Sergeant Carden_ WALTER MAGEE _Mrs. Delane, Postmistress at Cloon_ SARA ALLGOOD _Miss Joyce, the Priest’s House-keeper_ BRIGIT O’DEMPSEY THE GAOL GATE was first produced at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on 20th October, 1906, with the following cast: _Mary Cahel_ SARA ALLGOOD _Mary Cushin_ MAIRE O’NEILL _The Gate Keeper_ F. J. FAY THE JACKDAW was first produced at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on 23rd February, 1907, with the following cast: _Joseph Nestor_ F. J. FAY _Michael Cooney_ W. G. FAY _Mrs. Broderick_ SARA ALLGOOD _Tommy Nally_ ARTHUR SINCLAIR _Sibby Fahy_ BRIGIT O’DEMPSEY _Timothy Ward_ J. M. KERRIGAN THE RISING OF THE MOON was first produced at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on 9th March, 1907, with the following cast: _Sergeant_ ARTHUR SINCLAIR _Policeman X._ J. A. O’ROURKE _Policeman B._ J. M. KERRIGAN _Ballad Singer_ W. G. FAY WORKHOUSE WARD was first produced at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on 20th April, 1908, with the following cast: _Mike M’Inerney_ ARTHUR SINCLAIR _Michael Miskell_ FRED O’DONOVAN _Mrs. Donohue_ MARIE O’NEILL _A Selection from the Catalogue of_ G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS Complete Catalogues sent on application The Golden Apple