Martin Sheen in 'Stella Days,' Fethard.
Three Irish movies are now set to do battle at the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA), having obtaining nine nominations each. The films nominated are the period piece “Albert Nobbs,” the Tipperary rural drama “Stella Days,” and the excellent black comedy “The Guard.”
All three will now go ‘head to head,’ with results promised at a showbiz ceremony on the 11th of next month, at the Convention Centre in Dublin.
All three movies indeed warrant recognition and all demonstrate the professionalism of our small but talented Irish film industry, which in recent years, despite our economic problems, have achieved world recognition for their talent.
Actors nominated for a lead role are Martin Sheen for his role as an Irish priest in “Stella Days,” and a man, Thurles rightly regards as a native son, (my own personal favourite) Brendan Gleeson, for his role as a member of the Gardaí in “The Guard.” Co-star Marcella Plunkett has also been nominated for her part in “Stella Days.”
But it’s “Stella Days,” adapted from the book penned by Borrisokane, Co.Tipperary native, Michael Doorley, Tipperary will be particularly interested in. Its success should be good for Tourism in Co. Tipperary, since it was filmed here in the small South Tipperary rural town of Fethard and indeed actor Martin Sheen’s late mother Mary Ann Phelan originally hailed from Kilbarron, near Borrisocane in the North of the County.
Thurles Town also contributed to “Stella Days,” with the much loved local Thurles Bóthar na Naomh (Tran: Road of the Saints) Church Choir featuring in the film.
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