New radio documentary puts focus on notorious 'Lady Betty', Roscommon's executioner

A documentary about the infamous Roscommon executioner Elizabeth Sugrue airs for the first time on Athlone Community Radio next week.

‘The Ballad of Lady Betty’ will be premiered on ACR 88.4fm on Saturday, November 18 at 6pm, and will be replayed on Monday, November 20 at 1pm.

Having been accused of murdering her own son, Elizabeth Sugrue, better known as Lady Betty, saved her own life at the gallows by offering to hang people on a day when the hangman was sick. She stayed on in that position for decades in the late 18th century.

The new radio documentary features an original ballad written and performed by Declan Coyne, who many will know from his involvement in the South Roscommon Singers Festival every October, and as a fine singer who has been contributing to South Roscommon Singing Circle for many years.

As co-producer of the new programme, Declan said: “In 2021, I composed a ballad on the life and times of Lady Betty. Having grown up just a few miles south of Roscommon town, I would have heard many stories about Lady Betty and her exploits as permanent executioner at the town jail. Most of the stories told depicted her as a wicked and evil monster, but I always had a kind of ‘a soft spot’ for her.

"After all, she must have been somebody’s daughter; she was a mother herself and apparently reared an upstanding son. So, in the ballad, I tried to put a human face on the Lady, while at the same time telling what we know of what, for her, was a tough and miserable life.”

‘The Ballad of Lady Betty’ documentary delves further into this extraordinary story and tries to understand the circumstances of her life a little better and what drove Lady Betty to do the things she did, which earned her the title 'The Woman from Hell'.

Among the contributors to the documentary include Padraig Walshe, who is a personal behaviour psychologist and broadcaster with strong family ties in Roscommon Town, Bairbre Ní Fhloinn, an Associate Professor of Folklore and Ethnology at the Department of Irish Celtic Studies and Folklore at University College Dublin and local historian Albert Siggins, a native of Roscommon Town.

Local historian, artist and writer, Dympna Molloy, who is a nationally acclaimed sculptor and poet is another contributor to the show, along with Noel Molloy, an internationally known visual and performance artist, based outside Roscommon town and local historian John Kerrigan and writer. Music is performed by local musician Patsy Hanley.

The production team comprises of Kyle McCallan, sound, Johnny Callaghan, sound mastering, produced and edited by Irena Cvetkovic.

The programme is supported by Coimisiun na Mean with the television licence fee.