Lady Gregory
1852 - 1932
Isabella Augusta Gregory (neé Isabella Augusta Persse), born in Roxborough, County Galway in 1852, was an Irish playwright and folklorist and founding member of The Abbey Theatre. She married Sir William Henry Gregory in 1880 and lived at Coole Park, near Gort, County Galway. With her neighbour Edward Martyn and WB Yeats she founded the Irish Literary Theatre in 1899 which lasted until 1901. In 1904, Lady Gregory, Martyn, Yeats, John Millington Synge, Æ, Annie Elizabeth Fredericka Horniman and William and Frank Fay came together to form the Irish National Theatre Society.
One of Gregory's own plays, Spreading the News, was performed on the opening night of their new premises on Abbey Street on 27 December, 1904. She remained an active director of the company and wrote more than 35 plays until ill health led to her retirement in 1928.