"The Irish in Film," a popular movie series sponsored by Fairfield University's Irish Studies Committee, opens its third series on March 17 with "Omagh" (2004), an award-winning drama based on an actual Northern Ireland IRA bombing, directed by Pete Travis. The series is an Arts & Minds Season offering.
As in past years, a Fairfield University professor who teaches in the Irish Studies Minor introduces each of this series' four diverse offerings. The films are shown in the Multimedia Room of the DiMenna-Nyselius Library on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Fairfield University students as well as the public are welcome to this free event. Light refreshments will be served.
Dr. Kevin Cassidy, director of Irish studies, introduces "Omagh" (2004), a TV drama based on an actual bombing that took place in Northern Ireland by a group of Provisional IRA members opposed to the 1998 Good Friday Peace Accord.
Omagh, a small market town of Protestants and Catholics that had lived in peaceful co-existence during the Troubles, suffered the death of 29 of its citizens from a car bomb that exploded on a busy main street. Among the dead is the 21-year-old son of Mike Gallagher, a garage mechanic played by Gerard McSorley.
The story focuses on the effort of the father and others who suffered the loss of a loved one to find out why the bombers were never found and brought to justice. The award-winning film was co-written by Paul Greengrass, director of "Bloody Sunday" (2002), which was featured in the 2008 spring series and Guy Hibbert. Dr. Cassidy teaches "Northern Ireland: Politics of War and Peace."
For more information, please contact Marion White, Irish Studies Committee, at (203) 254-4000, ext. 3021, or by e-mail at mwhite@fairfield.edu.
photo courtesy of www.amazon.com