A remarkable new Irish film is currently on national release after a six-year journey to the big screen. Wild Goose Lodge, directed by William Martin and Paul McArdle, is an independently-produced historical epic, recreating the infamous Wild Goose Lodge burning at Reaghstown in Ardee two hundred years ago.
In early 1816, an attempted armed robbery took place in at Reaghstown's Wild Goose Lodge, leading to the trial and execution of three Ribbonmen – Patrick Shanley, Philip Conlon and Michael Tiernan – for their part.
In October of that year, the lodge was surrounded by around 100 Ribbonmen and set alight in an act of revenge. The eight occupants of the building at the time – including a five month old infant - all died. The film covers the robbery, the arson attack and the subsequent trial and execution of 18 men.
The film tells the story of the burning, which killed eight people and led to the execution of 18 men for the crime – many of them innocent.
Wild Goose Lodge co-star Finbar Furey, who also provided the film's soundtrack.
A labour of love for all involved, the first scenes for the film were shot on location in Ardee back in 2009, with Martin and Mr McArdle assembling their DIY feature in a piecemeal fashion over the following years, on evenings and weekends, with the assistance of an extended troupe of enthusiastic local residents. Following a New York screening for St. Patrick's Day, the film was acquired for screening by IMC cinemas in Ireland.
The cast features a number of well-known faces, including Dave Duffy (Fair City’s Leo Dowling), John Connors (Love/Hate), musician-turned actor Finbar Furey (who also composed the film's soundtrack) and stand-up comic Joe Rooney (Father Ted and Killinaskully) -more than 200 people from the extended Reaghstown area also participated as extras.
Wild Goose Lodge is in Irish cinemas now.
Listen below: Ryan Tubridy talks to Wild Goose Lodge director William Martin:
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