Director: Kevin Sheldon
Producer of Restoration: Sé Merry Doyle
Music: The Dubliners, The Grehan Sisters, Johhny Moynihan, The McKennas
Location: Ireland
Format: 35mm Black and White
Running Time: 1 x 37mins
Year Made: 1965 restored 1998
Transmission: RTE

  Sales Company:
Loopline Film, 106 Baggot Lane, Dublin 4, Ireland
t: +353-1-6676498 / 6627
f: +353-1-6676604
e: info@loopline.com   
 
     
     
  Suggestions for broadcasters: This is a recovered gem that has gathered cult status since its restoration. The fact that it has Ronnie Drew and 'The Dubliners' as the main stars gives it worldwide appeal.  
     
     
 
 
     
  O'Donoghue's Opera
Medium Quality Clip (820Kb)
High Quality Clip (1.9Mb)
Top Quality Clip (3.1Mb)

If you experience any problems with picture or sound quality please download the latest (Mac or PC) version of Quicktime. 		 
   
 
     

'O'Donoghue's Opera' is a unique and hilarious film starring Ronnie Drew and his band of bohemian merrymakers who include 'The Dubliners' and other favourite Irish musicians of the time like the McKennas and Johnny Moynihan.

Made in 1965, Ireland's first musical was never completed due to financial difficulties and remained unseen until veteran filmmaker Tom Hayes brought the out-takes to Sé Merry Doyle who painstakingly restored the gem and launched it at the 1998 Dublin Film Festival.

Based on the ballad 'The Night That Larry Was Stretched', sung by a young Johnny Moynihan, Ronnie Drew finds himself caught in a hangman's noose as a reward for his dubious career as "the best burglar in all Ireland".

The film which is tongue-in-cheek (all the way) has the flavour of an Irish Spaghetti Western and captures the spirit of Dublin camaraderie like no other work before or since. The Guinness, the music, the wit and the grit, its all there in abundance.

It says it all, when we see Ronnie fully decked-out in his stripy burglar outfit, trying to evade the law by disguising himself with a pioneer pin.

Since its launch, 'O'Donoghue's Opera' has quickly achieved cult status and has become a sought after nugget for film festivals throughout Ireland and Britain. Soon to be broadcast on RTE.

 
  Quotes: The hanging of Larry was a gala affair and took place early morning outside Tailor's Hall, in Christchurch Place. Our extras had been recruited from the fall-out of Dublin's night-life, denizens of milk parlours in those days, night clubs, houseparties etc. A motley crew of Dublin drop-outs assisted Larry in his passing. To add to the general tristesse of the occasion it was flogging rain and there was a big shortage of umbrellas. This event was to be topped by a big thunderstorm at Larry's funeral in Kilmainham. Atmosphere was the name of the game. - From Tom Hayes memoir of the making and 'finding' of this missing film - published in Film West

Click >>> HERE <<< to read the full review.		  
   


Stills 1965
11 shots


Premiere '98
4 shots


Diversions
20 shots

  'O'Donoghue's Opera' is a Loopline Film with
 
 
   
 
L o o p l i n e---F i l m ,---9---L a d---L a n e ,---D u b l i n---2 ,---I r e l a n d
 
 
E-mail us on info@loopline.com--Site designed by mediazoo@ireland.com