RTE Documentary featuring Lorrha to be screened on July 7th

The Ormond Way Association in conjunction with Lorrha and Dorrha Historical Society were delighted to welcome Peter Mulryan and his film crew to Lorrha in March of this year. The crew were on their fourth day of filming an RTE documentary recreating the historic march of O’Sullivan Beare which took place in the winter of 1603. The epic march from Beara in Co. Cork to Co. Leitrim took O’Sullivan and his followers 14 days, and of the 1000 men, women and children who marched with him, only 35 arrived in Leitrim. Some of the most dramatic parts of O’Sullivan’s journey took place in the parish of Lorrha. They were attacked by the Macegan clan from Redwood Castle and at Ballymacegan they made their dangerous voyage across the river Shannon.

Pádraig Ó’Duinnín, Evelyn O'Rourke, Peter Mulryan and his film crew, with members of Lorrha and Dorrha Historical Society.

The day began at Redwood Castle where the crew were made very welcome as they filmed from the top of the castle. Local man David Broderick gave an account of O’Sullivan’s journey through the parish. The second part of filming took place at White’s Ford in Ballymacegan. It was here that O’Sullivan Beare and his men crossed the Shannon in a currach made by killing and skinning their own horses. Currach builders Pádraig Ó’Duinnín and Dave Nolan were on site to try and recreate this important part of the journey. Pádraig may be a familiar face to some from his TG4 series Muintir na Mara.  Over two days they built the framework of a currach out of hazel and demonstrated with cow hides how O’Sullivan may have made a suitable vessel to travel across the river.

The framework of the currach partially covered with cowhide. (Both photos by Paddy Casey).

The documentary is due to be screened on RTE 1 on Sunday 7th July at 6.30pm and will be presented by broadcaster Evelyn O’Rourke.  Look out for updates on www.facebook.com/lorrhadorrhahistoricalsociety.

Fionnuala O’Crowley