Frank with Usain Bolt
Documentary maker Frank Mannion, is originally from Monacurragh, Carlow
The Irish premiere of the feature documentary Quintessentially Irish, directed by Carlow man Frank Mannion, will take place at the VISUAL George Bernard Shaw Theatre on Sunday 21 April at 7.30pm, preceded by a reception at 6.30pm. The premiere is free and open to the public on a first come first served basis.
The film celebrates everything that is great and Irish. It features a stellar cast offering their take on what’s quintessentially Irish, a veritable who’s who of Irish acting and political royalty led by three heads of state – President Michael D Higgins, President Joe Biden and HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. It was described as a “lush valentine to everything great and Irish” by the Mail.
The cast includes Pierce Brosnan, Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, Prince Albert II of Monaco (discussing the Irish heritage of his mother the Oscar winning actress Grace Kelly), Bob Geldof, Andrew Scott, Siobhan McSweeney, President Michael D Higgins, Rory Guinness (great-great-great grandson of Guinness founder, Arthur Guinness), business tycoon Dr Michael Smurfit, the conservationist and filmmaker Randal Plunkett (aka Lord Dunsany), Irish Times columnist Fintan O’Toole, Grand National winning jockey Rachael Blackmore, trainer Aidan O’Brien, best-selling writer Emma Dabiri, Celebrity Masterchef winner Riyadh Khalaf, chef Anna Haugh, Olympic Gold medalist Usain Bolt and his agent Ricky Simms and more, including a cameo from musician Niall Horan.
The filmmakers had exclusive access to the White House on St Patrick’s and to the Palace of Monaco and Aras an Uachtarain during the State visit of Joe Biden in April 2023. The film shot all over the country, north and south, including the Borris Festival of Writing and Ideas in County Carlow, the Irish Derby at the Curragh, the K Club in Kildare, Bushmills Whiskey Distillery, the Little Museum of Dublin, Dublin Castle, Trinity College Dublin and Grace Kelly’s homestead in Drumirla in County Mayo.
Speaking about the event, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, Cllr. Andrea Dalton said “It is wonderful to have a Carlow filmmaker showcasing his work about what it means to be Quintessentially Irish. The film is sure to touch the hearts of the nation and we are honoured to have this special screening taking place in Carlow”.
This free screening is funded and supported by Carlow County Council Arts Service.
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. Frank’s parents, Frank and Anna Mannion were both teachers in Knockbeg and St Mary’s Academy respectively and Frank himself went to school in St Joseph’s, CBS Primary School and St Mary’s Academy.
Filmmaker Frank Mannion says, “I am delighted that Quintessentially Irish is having its European premiere in my home town of Carlow. It was important to me that Carlow was showcased on the big screen in the film. We have some lovely aerial shots of local beauty spots including the Brownshill Dolmen, Milford, Borris Viaduct and Borris House. My thanks to Carlow County Council Arts Office and the VISUAL for making this premiere happen.”
Sponsors of the reception are Santa Rita wines and Bushmills.
Quintessentially Irish will be available on streaming in Ireland and the UK from April 29th.
