The Queen v Patrick O’Donnell
The Queen v Patrick O’Donnell reveals on screen for the first time the true story behind one of the most compelling murder plots in Irish history, a thrilling tale of violence, courtroom drama, romance and political intrigue.
Containing evidence from British Home Office files kept secret for 100 years, it reveals shocking new information about the fate of the quiet-spoken Donegal man who killed the infamous informer James Carey on board a ship off the coast of South Africa in 1883.
The film is adapted from the soon to be published book The Queen v Patrick O’Donnell written by Seán Ó Cuirreáin for Four Courts Press.
What possessed the illiterate labourer from the Donegal Gaeltacht to shoot the leader of The Invincibles? Who was the mystery woman posing as his wife? And why did both the US President and the French luminary Victor Hugo plead that Patrick O’Donnell not be hanged for his crime?
The main characters in the feature docu-drama are portrayed by the actors Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde, Stephen Jones, Brídín Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh and Sophie Campbell.
Directed by Tomás Seoighe, produced by Ciarán Ó Cofaigh, Eilís Ní Cheallaigh & Seán Ó Cuirreáin for ROSG, with funding from TG4, Screen Ireland and The BAI.
The Queen v Patrick O’Donnell will be broadcast on TG4 in 2022.
“We are absolutely delighted to be involved with the first public screening of this remarkable work in Ulster, ‘The Queen v Patrick Ó Donnell’. ROSG have achieved something extraordinary!” Daithí Mac Uait, Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain.
Hosted by Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain, the screening will be preceded by a historical contextualisation of the story provided by the writer of the book on which the film is based, Seán Ó Cuirreáin.
Dir: Tomás Seoighe | 2021 | Ireland | 1 hr 30 mins | In Irish with English subtitles
Scéal beatha Patrick O’Donnell, Padaí Mhicheáil Airt as Mín an Chladaigh, Gaoth Dobhair, a mharaigh an brathadóir cáiliúil James Carey ar bord loinge amach ó chósta na hAfraice Theas sa bhliain 1883, atá sa scannán nua seo.
Fadscannán drámaíochta agus faisnéise do TG4 é The Queen v Patrick O’Donnell atá bunaithe ar leabhar den ainm céanna le Seán Ó Cuirreáin atá le foilsiú go luath ag Four Courts Press.
Bhéarfaidh an saothar nua seo léargas don chéad uair ar an scáileán ar cheann de na comhchealga dúnmharaithe is suntasaí i stair na hÉireann, scéal lán le foréigean, cleasaíocht cúirte, scéiméireacht pholaitiúil agus rómánsaíocht.
Nochtfar eolas nua ann ó chomhad de chuid na Breataine a coinníodh ina rún ar feadh 100 bliain ar scéal beatha agus ar chinniúint Phadaí Mhicheáil Airt.
Céard a thug ar an bhfear Ghaoth Dobhair, Padaí Mhicheáil ceannaire na Invincibles James Carey a mharú? Cérbh í an bhean mhistéireach a bhí ina chomhluadar mar bhean chéile? Agus cén fáth gur iarr Uachtarán Mheiriceá agus sárscríbhneoir na Fraince Victor Hugo nach gcrochfaidh é?
Imeasc na n-aisteoirí sa scannán seo tá, Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde i bpáirt Phadaí Mhicheáil Airt chomh maithe le Stephen Jones, Brídín Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh agus Sophie Campbell.
Tomás Seoighe a stiúir an scannán, agus b’iad Ciarán Ó Cofaigh, Eilís Ní Cheallaigh agus Seán Ó Cuirreáin a bhí mar léiritheoirí do ROSG.
TG4, Fís Éireann agus an BAI a mhaoinigh an saothar.
Beidh The Queen v Patrick O’Donnell le feiceáil ar TG4 in 2022.
Roimh thosach an scannáin, cuirfidh Seán Ó Cuirreáin, a scríobh an leabhar ar a bhfuil an scannán faisnéise féin bunaithe, an scéal ar fad ina chomthéacs stairiúil. Arna chur i láthair ag Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain.
“Tá lúcháir an domhain orainn a bheith bainteach le chéad léiriú poiblí an scannáin iontaigh seo, ‘The Queen v Patrick Ó Donnell’ i gCúige Uladh. Tá éacht déanta ag ROSG!” Daithí Mac Uait, Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain.