SINÉAD, RTE’s new documentary on the late Dublin singer, will air on Ireland’s national broadcaster Monday January 15th. It is a straightforward retelling of her life and times with astute contributions from Imelda May, Christy Moore, producer David Holmes, film director and DJ Don Letts, playwright and academic Bonnie Greer and others. Above all, SINÉAD celebrates O’Connor’s courage.
Raised in Finglas on the northside of Dublin, Christy Dignam fronted the rock band, Aslan, for the guts of forty years. A fine story-teller and a terrific frontman and vocalist, he mined those twin gifts to considerable effect, on stage and off. A new documentary, CLOCH LE CARN: CHRISTY DIGNAM, showcases the singer’s extraordinary life and talent and airs Wednesday December 27th on RTE One. His wife Kathryn and daughter Kiera play tribute to him, while fellow musician Fiachna Ó Braonáin and former RTÉ Arts Correspondent Sinéad Crowley honour his legacy with others inspired by his musical talent.
Rich Peppiatt’s KNEECAP will have its world premiere at the renowned Sundance Film Festival in Utah next month and will become the first ever Irish language film to premiere at the prestigious film festival. Based on the origin story of the riotous and ground-breaking Irish-language rap trio Kneecap, the film stars the band’s Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí in their acting debuts alongside Academy Award nominated Michael Fassbender (THE KILLER, NEXT GOAL WINS) and Josie Walker (BELFAST, THE WONDER).
KILLER star Michael Fassbender is to star in an anti-establishment comedy about a controversial Irish language rap group from west Belfast. The Irish actor has been announced as the lead for an upcoming Kneecap biopic, which will be directed by Rich Peppiatt, who has also directed a music video for the band. Eponymously named KNEECAP, the film has been billed as a raucous, anti-establishment comedy and will star real-life band members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí as heightened versions of themselves.
Irish music documentary THE JOB OF SONGS will be available on digital download from 25th September, fresh from winning “Best International Documentary” at Galway Film Fleadh. Christy Barry shares the rich history of place and music, while lamenting the changes that tourism so quickly brings to this idyllic village. Luka Bloom seeks a legacy, while passing his adoration of music on to his sister Anne Rynne and friend Kieran O’Connell. Christy McNamara captures the area’s history in photographs, while passing on the musical tradition to the next generation.
Sinéad O’Connor’s last ever recorded song was The Skye Boat Song for time travel drama OUTLANDER. The Irish singer, who died at the age of 56 last month, recorded the haunting rendition of the theme track for the TV show’s final season shortly before her death. A new version of The Skye Boat Song was recorded for each season of OUTLANDER and always featured Raya Yarbrough’s vocals. However, executive producer Maril Davis asked Sinead to perform the tune for the show’s final season. Sinéad recorded the song over two days at Grouse Lodge in Ireland. Maril said she had no idea it would be the last song Sinéad would record.
Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor has died, aged 56. The singer’s death was first reported by The Irish Times and comes just over a year after her son, Shane, died by suicide at the age of 17. O’Connor is survived by her three children: Jake, Roisin and Yeshua. There is no better testament to Sinead’s talent than NOTHING COMPARES, directed by Belfast filmmaker, Kathryn Ferguson. This powerful documentary will broadcast exclusively on Sky Documentaries & NOW from 29 July.
Irish rock legends U2 will be streaming their ZOO TV: LIVE FROM SYDNEY concert film, which was originally recorded in 1993, during a FREE global watch party beginning July 12 at 3 p.m. ET. The Zoo TV extravaganza is widely regarded as the greatest rock tour ever staged and features a stunning repertoire of 23 songs old and new. High-tech gadgetry and emotional playing bring out the best in such numbers as ZOO STATION, THE FLY, MYSTERIOUS WAYS, NEW YEARS DAY, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU and more.