Westmeath adventures for award-winning film duo

With plans for a major film studio in Mullingar progressing, the focus on film-making and the lure of the silver screen has never been stronger in the midlands.

Westmeath based duo, private guide Bartle D’Arcy and filmmaker and producer Jason Ó Fionnáin, came together earlier this year to work on a number of film and documentary projects, particularly those with a historical background.

Their first production, a short documentary entitled An Bailitheoir (The Collector), was shot in Belfast in January and February of this year and features Pat O’Hagan, who owns the largest private collection of material from the Irish revolutionary period (1913-23).

This short documentary has been a runaway success internationally, winning at the Istanbul Film Festival, making the top four in New York, Texas and in Pinewood Studios and also twice shortlisted in Italy.

The Collector will be premièred during the Michael Collins Centenary in Cork on the night of August 21 in the Imperial Hotel, 100 years to the day since Collins spent his last night on Earth.

Meanwhile, Bartle and Jason have started shooting a new film called ‘The Cathach of Fionnán’, a historical treasure adventure set in the modern day and based on an ancient struggle over a holy manuscript that divided early Christian Ireland.

“I bring my guide experience, network of contacts, locations and historical knowledge to the projects, and Jason works out the film shoots, storylines, casting and production, and it is working very well, as shown by our Collector project,” said Bartle D’Arcy.

“We are independent, and work with a small technical crew and some talented actors, and we work fast. Last week we started shooting on location for The Cathach in the Nephin Beg mountains in Mayo, and we continue shooting this week in Dublin and Westmeath.”

The film will feature several sites in Westmeath and the midlands and will have potential knock-on economic benefits for visitor numbers, as film tourism is proving popular worldwide.

“I see the early Irish saints as the superheroes of Ireland, as they all had different powers and miracles associated with them. We intend to bring this to life in a modern day context, a hybrid of the Da Vinci Code and Percy Jackson so to speak,” Bartle added.

The story of The Cathach, which translates as ‘the Battler’, is one of intrigue, jealousy and a struggle for power between St Fionnán of Clonard and his student St Colmcille in sixth century Ireland, which led to the first ruling on copyright in the world by the High King: ‘To every cow its calf, to every book its copy.’

After the slaughter at the battle of Cúl Dreimhne, it resulted in Colmcille’s banishment to Iona. The film will trace an ancient prophecy of a final battle between the forces of good and evil which travels from the west coast of Ireland to the very gates of Hell itself.

“Working alongside Bartle has been great, with his knowledge and contacts opening doors everywhere. And after some years of frustration in trying to achieve official recognition for film projects, this new fresh approach is producing fantastic results,” said Jason Ó Fionnáin.

“We started shooting The Cathach – which is a project close to my heart because of my name – last Saturday in Mayo with a great crew, including drone pilots. We got some amazing footage.

“Then, on the way back, I got an email confirming a top four placing in the Dublin World Film Festival in Ontario, Canada – the winner is being announced later this month. This is our 7-up, our seventh global award.”

Work on ‘The Cathach’ continues, and for film work and acting opportunities email Jason at jasonfinnane@gmail.com.