A widow packs her deceased husband's papers into plastic bags and talks about her empty, silent life in Bolger's sad and powerful monologue. Monica married a young man called Swifty Hurley, who was shy and sweet, and loved soccer more than anything. But unable to cope with his inability to conceive a child, he becomes a right-wing conservative campaigner, leaving Monica to disappear into silence and fantasy. Now, after a funeral at which no-one knew who she was, Monica looks back at how their love came to a bitter end. 'The Holy Ground' was first staged (with 'In High Germany' as a double bill entitled 'The Tramway End') by the Gate Theatre, Dublin in 1990.