In March 1926, the USA saw its first production of an O’Casey play, when a version of Juno and the Paycock appeared at the Mayfair Theater in New York. The text was praised by two of the twentieth century’s most influential theatre reviewers, George Jean Nathan and Brooks Atkinson, who became major American supporters of O’Casey and his work. Their efforts were bolstered by the enthusiasm for O’Casey shown by the American director Paul Shyre. This chapter traces the development of O’Casey’s reputation in the USA, and examines a range of onstage versions of O’Casey’s plays in America, ranging from the introductory work of the 1920s to the 2019 O’Casey season at the Irish Repertory Theater in New York.

This chapter compares the foreign policy decision-making style and diplomatic priorities of Éamon de Valera and Franklin D. Roosevelt during the period 1932 to 1939. Before coming to presidential office, both men also saw value in promoting national interest through international engagement albeit within limits. Both men had to repay many political favours when it came to forming cabinets and administrations and in turn the existing diplomatic culture. Decisions about appointing an amateur or professional were influenced by a myriad of factors. Who were the men and women interested in the Dublin and Washington posts respectively? The chapter argues that the appointment revealed much about Roosevelt and de Valera’s interest in the other country and that the quality of the appointee would only emerge when they had to establish political and personal networks to assist in the promotion of national interests and when dealing with daily events