UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 02 MAY
The first UK screening of Quintessentially Irish, a full-length feature documentary directed by Birmingham City University (BCU) lecturer Frank Mannion, was hosted in Birmingham’s MAC Theatre last week (Sunday 28th, 2pm).
Exploring what it means to be Irish in the modern world, the film boasts a star-studded cast including Pierce Brosnan, Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, Bob Geldof, Andrew Scott, Derry Girls’ Siobhan McSweeney and Olympic Gold medallist Usain Bolt and his Irish sports agent Ricky Simms, including a cameo from musician Niall Horan.
“Birmingham is the most Irish place in the UK, with over 2% of the population claiming Irish heritage”, explains Frank Mannion, Senior Lecturer in Film at BCU.
"It is also home to a rich Irish cultural scene, with the St Patrick’s Festival, the Pairc Festival and the Birmingham TradFest being popular annual events. I hope that Quintessentially Irish will surprise people with unexpected stories of Irishness around the globe.”
Major heads of state including Irish President Michael D Higgins, US President Joe Biden and Prince Albert II of Monaco also feature in the film, with exclusive footage from inside the White House and the US Capitol on St Patrick’s Day, the Palace of Monaco and Aras an Uachtarain (the Irish Presidential Mansion) during the State visit of Joe Biden in April 2023.
Rory Guinness, the great-great-great grandson of Guinness founder, Arthur Guinness and business tycoons John Magnier and Dr Michael Smurfit, alongside conservationist and filmmaker Randal Plunkett (aka Lord Dunsany), London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Grand National winning jockey Rachael Blackmore, trainer Aidan O’Brien, Jessie Buckley, Brendan Gleeson, best-selling writer Emma Dabiri, Celebrity Masterchef winner Riyadh Khalaf and Masterchef judge Anna Haugh also explore their heritage throughout the film.
The documentary, produced by Swipe Films, has already been released in the United States where it was described as a “lush valentine to everything great and Irish” by the Mail and “fast paced and entertaining” by the Sunday Times.
It is the third film directed by Irishman Frank Mannion, after his acclaimed debut Sparkling: The Story of Champagne featuring Stephen Fry and sleeper hit Quintessentially British with Ian McKellen and Judi Dench.
Director Frank Mannion, Senior Lecturer in Film at BCU, will also host a Q&A following the screening.
Quintessentially Irish will be available in cinemas and on streaming in the UK and Ireland from April 29th.