The screening for cast, crew and supporters took place on Saturday the 14th of January 2023. Over 100 people attended the event. In addition to the friends of cast, crew and supporters we also had a number of people who had family connections to the Liam Lynch story. There were members of the Lynch and Clancy families. It was wonderful to watch the interaction between cast an relations of those who were involved back in 1923. The photo below shows the breath of the project. Noel Clancy, Tom Clancy – nephew of Lt Laurence Clancy, Dolores Lynne granddaughter of Liam Lynch, John Foley producer, Bernadette Guest – Heritage Officer, Waterford City and County Council, Gerard Shannon – Author and Historian, Michael Desmond – Local Historian and Deirdre Collender – Director of Drama.
Some of the cast who were present included Pat Power (Eamon deValera), Kevin Kiely, Brian Pattwell (Liam Lynch), Pearse O’Donoghue (Tom Barry), Shane Collender (Lt Laurence Clancy), Lee Martin (Free State Soldier).
There were a number of family members from houses where Liam Lynch had stayed during both the War of Independence and the Civil War. Máire Lehane is originally from Gortín Fliuch outside Ballingeary in Co Cork. Liam Lynch stayed in the house of her grandparents Dan and Nan Lehane for a significant period in 1921 before the truce and again in February and March 1923. Máire’s sister Nóra Levis is one of the interviewees in the film and she recounts the events from that time as handed down from her ancestors. On the right is Seamus Kirwan of Graigavalla. Liam Lynch would have stayed in the Kirwan house in 1919 and again met with Bridie Keyes there after the executive meeting in the Nire Valley in 1923.
It was wonderful to have members of both the Lynch family and the Clancy family with us for the screening. Below from left in the photo below: Shay Cody, Christy O’Callagan, Cait Shinnick. Ber O’Liathán, John Foley, Tom Clancy, Dolores Lyne and Noel Clancy.
The film would not have been possible without a number of supporters. We got a great welcome in Newcastle back in March 2022 when we filmed a number of scenes in and around Newcastle. Below: special thanks to the McGrath family, Rose and David Condon from Nugents Pub and Joe Colbert for their help with film locations.
Below: Cast and crew of The Dying Days
