Latest news with #IrishAmericans
RTÉ News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
NORAID: Irish America and the IRA - inside the new documentary
Documentary maker Kevin Brannigan introduces his new documentary NORAID: Irish America and the IRA, a two-part tale telling the astonishing story of the role played by Irish Americans during the conflict in Northern Ireland, which premieres on RTÉ One on July 9th and 16th. Belfast, August 12th, 1984. A few thousand people have assembled outside Sinn Féin's Connolly House, in the Anderstown area of the city. They have all spent the day marching under the watchful eyes of the RUC and the British full apparatus of the security state is on display. Police Land-Rovers, guns, dogs, helicopters. It's the 13th anniversary of the start of Operation Demetrius, better known as the introduction of Internment, when the British Army had rounded up close to 2,000 people, the majority of whom were nationalists, imprisoning them without trial. But in this scene at Anderstown something else other than simply marking this date is at play. Something is about to happen. Then it happens. In our film we pause the footage a split second before the plastic bullet is fired, when we hit play again the RUC bullet travels through film frames and into the chest of 22 year old John Downes. The father of one dies. In the moments before Downes' death, an American man in his 30s had been introduced by Gerry Adams MP onto the speaking platform. Before the American utters a word, the RUC, with batons drawn, rush forward to storm the platform. They want to arrest Martin Galvin. Death and injury follow. The American slips away. Why had the British Army been deployed in great numbers onto the streets of Belfast to apprehend this American? Why had the RUC caused a riot and in the melee killed a young man to get to this American? Who was he and what did he represent? The American was a New Yorker by the name of Martin Galvin. He was the spokesperson and face of a US group called 'Irish Northern Aid'; better known as NORAID. The group had been formed at the outbreak of the Troubles in 1969, with the stated intention of raising money for the families of imprisoned or dead Irish Republicans. Through access to exclusive archival accounts and interviews with members of NORAID our film explores this mostly forgotten but vital component of the conflict in the North. Watch a clip from NORAID: Irish America and the IRA By the time of the anti-interment march through Belfast in the summer of '84, NORAID had become such a thorn in the side of the British state that Martin Galvin had been banned from entering Northern Ireland. This banning order and his subsequent appearance alongside Gerry Adams on that speaking platform is what led to the riot on that day. But NORAID was much more than this one incident. Their members acted as the Republican Movement's eyes and ears in America. Fundraising, demonstrating, propagandising and, for some, gun-running. NORAID were a crucial part of Sinn Féin's strategy right up until the mid-1990's. In making this two-part film we travelled throughout New York, New Jersey and Boston, interviewing former NORAID members, IRA gun runners, gangsters, a bi-liturgical priest in his 90s from Limerick and a one-time FBI agent, who served on the NORAID beat. For the first time on film, we have put together the story of militant Irish Republicanism in America during the conflict in the North. It's a story that leads the viewer into back-rooms with the infamous South Boston Gangster Whitey Bulger and ultimately into the White House. But, at its core, it's a story of Irish immigrants, or those of a second or third generation, who had a deep connection to their country of origin and who were anything but the Plastic Paddy stereotype. The scorn poured on their intense activism by the media in the Irish Republic also acts as a mirror to the attitudes of those living in the South during the conflict. Did those of us in the 26 counties resent this American ''interfering'' due to the embarrassment of our lack of action, fueled by censorship under acts such as Section 31? Our main aim with this film was to tell a story that is either misunderstood or not known at all. NORAID were a crucial part of Sinn Féin's strategy right up until the mid-1990's. It was NORAID lobbying that helped focus minds in the Democratic Party on the North of Ireland. NORAID agitation that led Bill Clinton — then a candidate for the Democratic Primaries – to declare on television that, yes, he would issue a Visa to Gerry Adams if elected President. Clinton, of course, won the presidency and it's around this time that NORAID moved off the stage. Financiers and powerbrokers, elite men who once would have not deemed Gerry Adams acceptable company began to occupy the position that NORAID once held. But there's a lot more to it than that. Myself, Jamie Goldrick, Niamh Learmont and Faolán Carey travelled the East Coast of America meeting the people who formed the backbone of NORAID. We wanted them to tell their story for themselves. No talking heads guide you towards how you should feel about the characters or their actions. It's for the viewer to make up their mind from watching and listening to first hand testimony. Watch a clip from NORAID: Irish America and the IRA We also wanted to capture the high-jinks and devilment that come with being part of an organisation that's operating outside the accepted norms. History should never be cold or boring in its retelling and with the characters we met and interviewed that was never going to be an option. Our film should also help frame the Irish relationship with Americans through a different lens, that of international solidarity, the opposite to Shannon Airport being used by the US military. While also reminding Irish people just how deep the love of one's native country stays within the hearts of immigrants down through the generations.
Belfast Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Man who was face of IRA in US on escaping arrest from RUC, 'traitor' Denis Donaldson and using Playboy to further republican cause
Ahead of a new RTE documentary, the Belfast Telegraph looks at the role played by Irish Americans during the Troubles For almost two decades, he was the public face of the IRA in the US. New York lawyer Martin Galvin was regarded as so dangerous by the authorities here that he was prohibited from entering the UK. In August 1984 he defied the ban to appear at an anti-internment rally in west Belfast.
Belfast Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
‘We were Sinn Fein's friends in America, the people they could count on — until they wanted to change their image ... but I've no regrets'
Ahead of a new RTE documentary, the Belfast Telegraph looks at the role played by Irish Americans during the Troubles For almost two decades, he was the public face of the IRA in the US. New York lawyer Martin Galvin was regarded as so dangerous by the authorities here that he was prohibited from entering the UK. In August 1984 he defied the ban to appear at an anti-internment rally in west Belfast.
RTÉ News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
RTÉ's Summer Slate of Documentaries Unveiled
Showcasing Unique Irish Stories and Exploring Irish Life Natasha O'Brien, the young Limerick woman featured in the documentary Natasha, now streaming on RTÉ Player RTÉ has today announced details of its summer line-up of home-grown documentaries airing across RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, showcasing both modern and historical stories which are uniquely Irish. From the harrowing journey of assault survivor Natasha O'Brien, to exploring the fate of Ireland's dwindling missionaries, to a deep dive into NORAID, and an in-depth look at the lives of Buddhists in Beara, a broad range of intriguing one-off documentaries and documentary series will air on RTÉ across the summer months. Natasha Wednesday 25 June 9.35pm Having survived a violent assault by a serving soldier—who was convicted but walked free with a suspended sentence—Natasha O'Brien, a young Limerick woman, refuses to stay silent. Her public outcry against the lenient ruling ignites national protests and forces a reckoning with how the Irish justice system treats survivors of gender-based violence. This powerful, intimate documentary follows Natasha and is a portrayal of how the aftermath of a violent attack and the subsequent strain of the flawed justice system affects a young woman's life and how she attempts to transform her trauma into activism. The Phone Box Babies Wednesday 2 July, 9.35 pm The Phone Box Babies reveals new insights into the lives and identities of three newborn babies abandoned in the 1960s in different parts of Ireland. The babies were discovered by random passersby in phone boxes, and in a car, without any identifying information or clue to their origins. David McBride, born in 1962, was left in a car in a Belfast driveway. John Dowling, born in 1965, was found in a Drogheda phone box. Helen Ward, born in 1968, was discovered in a Dundalk phone box. Each was adopted and raised in different parts of Ireland. This new documentary uncovers details about the babies' parents, where they came from, and why they were given up. Fifty years later, as adults, they discover their connection to each other and embark on an emotional journey to uncover their identities. NORAID: Irish America & The IRA Begins on Wednesday 9 July, 9.35 pm A gripping new two-part documentary that tells the astonishing story of the role played by Irish Americans during the conflict in Northern Ireland: fundraising, propagandising and gun-running. NORAID: Irish America & the IRA, tells of a body of Irish Americans who acted as the Republican movement's voice in the United States of America throughout that period. Told through first-hand accounts and using exclusive archive sources, the series looks at how Irish-America went from collecting money in bars in the Bronx to pressing the Presidential Candidate, Bill Clinton, during the 1992 primaries - lobbying which led to a key turning point in the nascent Peace Process: a US Visa for the then President of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams. Listen to the Land Speak Listen to the Land Speak sees Manchán Magan reveal the profound knowledge and wisdom contained in our landscape and myths and explore how they have shaped the way we look at the world. Filmed over four seasons, the film unfolds from Winter Solstice to Bealtaine through Reek Sunday to Samhain. Along his journey, he meets respected archaeologists, mythologists, writers and shamans that offer different perspectives on how our ancestors related to the land and landscape around them. It also becomes an unexpectedly personal story - as he seeks to help heal society's relationship with nature - Manchán also realises that there is a serious illness within himself that makes him see these ancient sites and beliefs in a whole new light. Don't Forget to Remember This unconventional documentary from Ross Killeen (Love Yourself Today) is an emotive human story featuring the artist Asbestos and his journey through the slow decay of his mother's memories as they disintegrate due to her advancing Alzheimer's disease. His work represents the fragility of memory in images, which are themselves fragile and transient. Together Killeen and Asbestos consider the brittleness of memory and find that even though Alzheimer's brings elements of disintegration and destruction, the memories we have of our loved ones will endure and last, even if they've disintegrated in the mind of the sufferer. The work is at once a moving portrait of one woman's memory loss, but also a celebration of a loving family coming together in the face of this condition. The Last Irish Missionaries Bryan Dobson and Dearbhail McDonald chart the unique evolution of the Irish missionary movement, from religious colonialism to heroic acts of self-sacrifice and philanthropy; from a flourishing of Irish 'soft power', to tawdry scandals of abuse and cover-up. Today, the Irish missionary chapter is drawing to a close. Ireland's last missionaries are nearly all elderly - what will be their legacy? And who, if anyone, will take their place? Dearbhail and Bryan explore why so many Irish priests, nuns, lay people and other religious felt called to spread the Gospel to the farthest reaches of the world. They also hear firsthand about their experiences and the impact of those individuals worldwide. The Last Irish Missionaries is produced with funding from Coimisiún na Meán's Sound & Vision Fund. The Breaking Wave - The Buddhists of Beara This feature-length film tells the remarkable story of Dzogchen Beara, a spiritual haven perched amidst the stunning landscape of West Cork's Beara peninsula. Founded by Peter and Harriet Cornish in 1973, the Centre appointed an internationally renowned Buddhist teacher, Sogyal Rinpoche, as its spiritual director, in 1994. Over 20 years later, the community was rocked by revelations that Rinpoche was a serial sexual predator. With unique access over five years, Maurice O'Brien's film captures the community's efforts to come to terms with this scandal and with the death of Peter Cornish, while constructing Ireland's first Tibetan Buddhist Temple. Produced with funding from Coimisiún na Meán's Sound & Vision Fund and Screen Ireland. Home: The Story of Zak Moradi Home: The Story of Zak Moradi tells the story of Zak, born in a camp in war-torn Iraq on the day the Gulf War began. Zak and his family share their experiences from fleeing their home to building a new life in Ireland, where he finds a community and his passion through the local GAA and playing hurling. 20 years since leaving Iraq, Zak returns to reconnect with his past on an emotional journey, in what is a poignant and inspiring story of resilience and hope, that explores the importance, meaning and feeling of a home. The documentary premiered at last year's Galway Film Fleadh. Mrs Robinson Mrs Robinson tells the story of Mary Robinson - in her own words, for the very first time - illuminating battles for justice and equality over half a century; on the streets, in the courts, at the ballot box, and in backroom corridors of power. A reforming constitutional lawyer and Senator in her early career, Mary Robinson detonated an electoral earthquake by winning the Irish Presidential vote in 1990. Later, as a crusading UN High Commissioner, she built a lasting legacy; fearlessly challenging perpetrators of human rights abuses all over the world. To this day, she exerts leadership as the Chair of The Elders; the independent group of global leaders (founded by Nelson Mandela) who work for peace, justice and human rights. Pray for our Sinners Pray for Our Sinners documents Sinéad O'Shea's return to her hometown, Navan, to explore the impact of the Catholic Church on the community in decades past. Through first hand testimonies, the film reveals the plight of unmarried mothers; the horrors of mother and baby homes and the prevalence of violence against children in Catholic schools. A handful of extraordinary figures chose to resist the pervasive power of the church: a woman who refused to give her baby up for adoption, a 9-year-old boy who dared to speak out against his teachers' physical abuse; and a couple who established a family planning service and campaigned for the abolition of corporal punishment Football Families Football Families is a high-action entertaining three-part series featuring some of Ireland's best young soccer talent as they chase the dream of making it in the dog-eat-dog world of professional football, filmed behind-the-scenes with the rising stars of league of Ireland champions Shelbourne F.C's soccer academy. The series was filmed as the 2024 league reached its climax with Shelbourne being crowned champions under manager Damien Duff. Delving behind the scenes, the series highlights how this sport for the masses is a profession for the few. Hard-working and determined, these teenagers from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities train together and bond as teams who want to win. Their stories reveal the pressure and scrutiny they're under as they cope with the brutal reality of elite level football. North Circular North Circular is a multiple award-winning documentary which travels the length of Dublin's fabled North Circular Road. This is a place where local characters share their powerful and emotive stories, accompanied by traditional ballads and folk music, all adding to the narrative. Conjuring the ghosts of the past, while engaging with the conflicts and celebrations of today, North Circular also features some Dublin humour thrown in. The film includes musical performances from local artists including John Francis Flynn, Séan Ó Túama, Eoghan O'Ceannabháin, Ian Lynch & Gemma Dunleavy. Breaking Out Fergus O'Farrell was the charismatic voice of Interference, one of the most compelling and influential bands to emerge from the Irish music scene in the 1990s, best-known for his timeless song Gold which featured in the soundtrack to Once. Despite being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at a young age, through it all, Fergus had to keep singing. His unique talent and love for life inspired a generation of songwriters. Oscar-winner Glen Hansard was one, and in one of the many incredible moments in Breaking Out, he performs the ultimate duet as Fergus' greatest gift was failing. Winner of Best Irish Documentary at the Galway Film Fleadh 2019 , this intimate journey into the heart and soul of Fergus O'Farrell was filmed over ten years by director Michael McCormack. Sightless Cinema A year in the life of the Sightless Cinema audio drama network, as they embark on their biggest show to date. The Sightless Cinema network is a group of blind and visually impaired people who create audio dramas for performance in theatres and cinemas. Founded in 2015 by theatre director Ciarán Taylor, and sound artist Rachel Ní Chuinn, Sightless Cinema has grown from a tiny group to a nationwide community. Director Gareth Stack followed Sightless Cinema as they rehearsed and performed their new show across Ireland. Members of the group candidly discuss their sight loss and how their lives have been shaped by blindness. We watch their creative process in action. As Sightless Cinema turn their lived experiences of blindness into compelling audio theatre. The Graceless Age - The Ballad of John Murry Feature documentary on American singer songwriter John Murry who was on the cusp of greatness after the release of his album Graceless Age (2013) when his world fell apart. He found solace in Ireland where he had washed up creatively exhausted and depressed and where, he said, the landscape and the people revived him. This haunting film sees John retrace his steps back to Mississippi to a neglected childhood, explore his family links to the Nobel Prize winning author William Faulkner, and ultimately find understanding and redemption through his love for music. Further documentary and scheduling details will be announced in due course. The TX dates for upcoming RTÉ documentaries will be finalised across the summer and will be available on RTÉ Presspack. For Further Information: Jennifer O'Brien, RTÉ Communications
RTÉ News
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
RTÉ announces new slate of homegrown documentaries
From a documentary about former President Mary Robinson to look at the lives of Buddhists in Beara and an exploration of the links between the IRA and America, RTÉ television has announced a new series of homegrown documentaries. Produced to "showcase unique Irish stories and explore Irish life," the new documentary slate also includes Pray for our Sinners about the impact of the Catholic Church on the town of Navan and The Phone Box Babies, which reveals new insights into the lives and identities of three newborn babies abandoned in the 1960s in different parts of Ireland.. Natasha, Wednesday 25 June, 9.35pm, RTÉ One/RTÉ Player Having survived a violent assault by a serving soldier - who was convicted but walked free with a suspended sentence - Natasha O'Brien, a young Limerick woman, refuses to stay silent. Her public outcry against the lenient ruling ignites national protests and forces a reckoning with how the Irish justice system treats survivors of gender-based violence. This documentary follows Natasha and is a portrayal of how the aftermath of a violent attack and the subsequent strain of the flawed justice system affects a young woman's life and how she attempts to transform her trauma into activism. The Phone Box Babies reveals new insights into the lives and identities of three newborn babies abandoned in the 1960s in different parts of Ireland. The babies were discovered by random passersbys in phone boxes, and in a car, without any identifying information or clue to their origins. David McBride, born in 1962, was left in a car in a Belfast driveway. John Dowling, born in 1965, was found in a Drogheda phone box. Helen Ward, born in 1968, was discovered in a Dundalk phone box. Each was adopted and raised in different parts of Ireland. This new documentary uncovers details about the babies' parents, where they came from, and why they were given up. Fifty years later, as adults, they discover their connection to each other and embark on an emotional journey to uncover their identities. A new two-part documentary that tells the astonishing story of the role played by Irish Americans during the conflict in Northern Ireland: fundraising, propagandising and gun-running. NORAID: Irish America and the IRA tells of a body of Irish Americans who acted as the Republican movement's voice in the United States of America throughout that period. Told through first-hand accounts and using exclusive archive sources, the series looks at how Irish-America went from collecting money in bars in the Bronx to pressing the Presidential Candidate, Bill Clinton, during the 1992 primaries - lobbying which led to a key turning point in the nascent Peace Process: a US Visa for the then President of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams. Listen to the Land Speak, RTÉ One/RTÉ Player Listen to the Land Speak sees Manchán Magan reveal the profound knowledge and wisdom contained in our landscape and myths and explore how they have shaped the way we look at the world. Filmed over four seasons, the film unfolds from Winter Solstice to Bealtaine through Reek Sunday to Samhain. Along his journey, he meets archaeologists, mythologists, writers and shamans that offer different perspectives on how our ancestors related to the land and landscape around them. It also becomes an unexpectedly personal story - as he seeks to help heal society's relationship with nature - Manchán also realises that there is a serious illness within himself that makes him see these ancient sites and beliefs in a whole new light. Don't Forget to Remember, RTÉ One/RTÉ Player This unconventional documentary from Ross Killeen (Love Yourself Today) is an emotive human story featuring the artist Asbestos and his journey through the slow decay of his mother's memories as they disintegrate due to her advancing Alzheimer's disease. His work represents the fragility of memory in images, which are themselves fragile and transient. Together Killeen and Asbestos consider the brittleness of memory and find that even though Alzheimer's brings elements of disintegration and destruction, the memories we have of our loved ones will endure and last, even if they've disintegrated in the mind of the sufferer. The work is at once a moving portrait of one woman's memory loss, but also a celebration of a loving family coming together in the face of this condition. The Last Irish Missionaries, RTÉ One/RTÉ Player Bryan Dobson and Dearbhail McDonald chart the unique evolution of the Irish missionary movement, from religious colonialism to heroic acts of self-sacrifice and philanthropy; from a flourishing of Irish "soft power," to tawdry scandals of abuse and cover-up. Today, the Irish missionary chapter is drawing to a close. Ireland's last missionaries are nearly all elderly - what will be their legacy? And who, if anyone, will take their place? Dearbhail and Bryan explore why so many Irish priests, nuns, lay people and other religious felt called to spread the Gospel to the farthest reaches of the world. They also hear firsthand about their experiences and the impact of those individuals worldwide. The Breaking Wave - The Buddhists of Beara, RTÉ One/RTÉ Player This feature-length film tells the remarkable story of Dzogchen Beara, a spiritual haven perched amidst the stunning landscape of West Cork's Beara peninsula. Founded by Peter and Harriet Cornish in 1973, the Centre appointed an internationally renowned Buddhist teacher, Sogyal Rinpoche, as its spiritual director, in 1994. Over 20 years later, the community was rocked by revelations that Rinpoche was a serial sexual predator. With unique access over five years, Maurice O'Brien's film captures the community's efforts to come to terms with this scandal and with the death of Peter Cornish, while constructing Ireland's first Tibetan Buddhist Temple. Home: The Story of Zak Moradi tells the story of Zak, born in a camp in war-torn Iraq on the day the Gulf War began. Zak and his family share their experiences from fleeing their home to building a new life in Ireland, where he finds a community and his passion through the local GAA and playing hurling. 20 years since leaving Iraq, Zak returns to reconnect with his past on an emotional journey, in what is a poignant and inspiring story of resilience and hope, that explores the importance, meaning and feeling of a home. The documentary premiered at last year's Galway Film Fleadh. Mrs Robinson, RTÉ One/RTÉ Player Mrs Robinson tells the story of Mary Robinson - in her own words, for the very first time - illuminating battles for justice and equality over half a century; on the streets, in the courts, at the ballot box, and in backroom corridors of power. A reforming constitutional lawyer and Senator in her early career, Mary Robinson detonated an electoral earthquake by winning the Irish Presidential vote in 1990. Later, as a crusading UN High Commissioner, she built a lasting legacy; fearlessly challenging perpetrators of human rights abuses all over the world. To this day, she exerts leadership as the Chair of The Elders; the independent group of global leaders (founded by Nelson Mandela) who work for peace, justice and human rights. Pray for our Sinners, RTÉ One/RTÉ Player Pray for Our Sinners documents Sinéad O'Shea's return to her hometown, Navan, to explore the impact of the Catholic Church on the community in decades past. Through first hand testimonies, the film reveals the plight of unmarried mothers; the horrors of mother and baby homes and the prevalence of violence against children in Catholic schools. A handful of extraordinary figures chose to resist the pervasive power of the church: a woman who refused to give her baby up for adoption, a nine-year-old boy who dared to speak out against his teachers' physical abuse; and a couple who established a family planning service and campaigned for the abolition of corporal punishment Football Families, RTÉ One/RTÉ Player Football Families is a three-part series featuring some of Ireland's best young soccer talent as they chase the dream of making it in the dog-eat-dog world of professional football, filmed behind-the-scenes with the rising stars of league of Ireland champions Shelbourne F.C's soccer academy. The series was filmed as the 2024 league reached its climax with Shelbourne being crowned champions under manager Damien Duff. Delving behind the scenes, the series highlights how this sport for the masses is a profession for the few. Hard-working and determined, these teenagers from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities train together and bond as teams who want to win. Their stories reveal the pressure and scrutiny they're under as they cope with the brutal reality of elite level football. North Circular, RTÉ One/RTÉ Player North Circular is a multiple award-winning documentary which travels the length of Dublin's North Circular Road. This is a place where local characters share their powerful and emotive stories, accompanied by traditional ballads and folk music, all adding to the narrative. Conjuring the ghosts of the past, while engaging with the conflicts and celebrations of today, North Circular also features some Dublin humour thrown in. The film includes musical performances from local artists including John Francis Flynn, Séan Ó Túama, Eoghan O'Ceannabháin, Ian Lynch and Gemma Dunleavy. Breaking Out, RTÉ One/RTÉ Player Fergus O'Farrell was the charismatic voice of Interference, one of the most compelling and influential bands to emerge from the Irish music scene in the 1990s, best-known for his timeless song Gold which featured in the soundtrack to Oscar-winning movie Once. Despite being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at a young age, through it all, Fergus had to keep singing. His unique talent and love for life inspired a generation of songwriters. Oscar-winner Glen Hansard was one, and in one of the many incredible moments in Breaking Out, he performs the ultimate duet as Fergus' greatest gift was failing. Winner of Best Irish Documentary at the Galway Film Fleadh 2019 , this intimate journey into the heart and soul of Fergus O'Farrell was filmed over ten years by director Michael McCormack. Sightless Cinema, RTÉ One/RTÉ Player A year in the life of the Sightless Cinema audio drama network, as they embark on their biggest show to date. The Sightless Cinema network is a group of blind and visually impaired people who create audio dramas for performance in theatres and cinemas. Founded in 2015 by theatre director Ciarán Taylor, and sound artist Rachel Ní Chuinn, Sightless Cinema has grown from a tiny group to a nationwide community. Director Gareth Stack followed Sightless Cinema as they rehearsed and performed their new show across Ireland. Members of the group candidly discuss their sight loss and how their lives have been shaped by blindness. We watch their creative process in action. As Sightless Cinema turn their lived experiences of blindness into compelling audio theatre. Feature documentary on American singer songwriter John Murry who was on the cusp of greatness after the release of his album Graceless Age in 2013 when his world fell apart. He found solace in Ireland where he had washed up creatively exhausted and depressed and where, he said, the landscape and the people revived him. This film sees John retrace his steps back to Mississippi to a neglected childhood, explore his family links to the Nobel Prize winning author William Faulkner, and ultimately find understanding and redemption through his love for music.
