Will John Cusack Visit Ballingarry, Thurles, To Film ‘Thomas Francis Meagher’?

Ballingarry (SR), Thurles, Co. Tipperary, to play host to National Famine Commemorations

We understand that the village of Ballingarry (SR), Thurles, Co. Tipperary, will play host to the National Famine Commemoration this year, 2017.  This will be the first occasion on which the commemoration will be hosted in Co. Tipperary, since the establishment of the National Famine Commemoration Committee came into being in 2008.

The event will be held on September 30th, 2017 in the Famine Warhouse, (Also referred to as “The Widow McCormack’s House” or the British derogatory title of “The Widow McCormack’s Cabbage Patch.”), situated a short distance outside the village.

Will the Hollywood Actor / Producer, Mr John Cusack, be visiting the Widow McCormack’s Cabbage Patch?

The signatures of Thomas Francis Meagher & Patrick O’Donoghue, both present at the ‘Ballingarry Uprising of 1848’. These signatures are written on the inside cover of a book found in Richmond prison, Tasmania. The book is entitled “Wreath of Friendship,” and both signatures are dated 26th February 1849.

We now ask the question; Will this also be the year that Hollywood actor and producer Mr John Cusack begins to shoot a major film on the life of Thomas Francis Meagher, the Irish-born Fenian leader?  Latter was involved in a skirmish known as the Ballingarry Uprising of 1848, as well as leading the famous Union Armies’ Fighting 69th Regiment into battle during the American civil war.  Indeed Meagher, known as “Meagher of the Sword” (Following his speech on the right of the Irish nation to fight for its freedom and which was given at his trial), was first to fly the Irish Tricolour (Green White & Orange) at this same Ballingarry rebellion.

Mr Cusack informed Irish television’s, “Today Show”, at the Belfast Film Festival, that a film on the life of Thomas Francis Meagher (Inspired by the best selling biographical book “The Immortal Irishman” by New York Times columnist Timothy Egan), would feature a major international cast and be filmed all over Ireland.

Meagher who was found guilty of treason, following this skirmish, and sentenced to death; found his sentence later commuted to transportation from Ireland to Richmond Prison in Tasmania, Australia, from which he later escaped, to eventually end up in New York.

Following the American Civil War, he was appointed Governor of Montana State, but died soon afterwards under mysterious circumstances, aged 43 years.