5 Reasons To Watch TRAD

The director's impressive CV

TRAD is the latest in a run of acclaimed films from writer/director Lance Daly. From an early appearance as ‘Kid with Harmonica’ in The Commitments, Daly has established himself as one of the country's most captivating filmmaking talents. Some of his most celebrated work includes 2008’s Kisses, a coming-of-age drama following two Dublin pre-teens; and 2018’s Black ‘47, a revenge thriller set during the Great Irish Famine – both of which won numerous awards.

Daly also produced TRAD, while executive producers include Wildcard’s Patrick O’Neill and Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer.

The stellar cast

At the centre of TRAD is rising star Megan Nic Fhionnghaile, playing Shóna McAnally – a deeply talented young fiddle player, who finds herself on the road with a troupe of wandering musicians. The film is Megan's first foray into cinema, but Lance Daly was instantly impressed.

“She came in and played, and the energy in the room was unbelievable," the director says of her audition. "She was stomping away, playing with complete focus.”

As well as featuring newcomers Nic Fhionnghaile and Cathal Coade Palmer, TRAD's supporting cast includes major names like Aidan Gillen, Sarah Greene, Peter Coonan and Ann Skelly

The authenticity

Real-life musicians are at the centre of TRAD – with Megan Nic Fhionnghaile having grown up immersed in the tradition in Gaoth Dobhair.

“My great-granddad would have been a fiddle player," she tells Hot Press. "His name was Joe Jack, and he played a lot with Leo Brennan. He died quite young, but my granny and her siblings all played instruments, mainly singing, and did a lot with marching bands,”

She started playing the fiddle herself at the age of 12.

“I hated it at first!” she resumes. “I wanted to play football, like all my friends. But once I got decent, I kind of liked it. It was really about my granddad and his history."

Tradition vs modernity

TRAD raises important questions about the place of tradition in an increasingly fast-paced world. Like many Irish people, Nic Fhionnghaile's character Shóna is initially slow to embrace her language and culture.

“The main conflict in the movie is between traditional and modernity,” says Daly. “She meets those guys who are all looking for the authentic thing, and she’s like, ‘Get me the hell out of here’ - but they’re going for what she’s escaping from."

The soundtrack

Nic Fhionnghaile worked closely with Declan Quinn and Eugene Quinn on the film's soundtrack, which is rooted in traditional Irish music, and features contributions from the likes of Damien Mullane, Conor Lyons, Conor Broderick, Colm Delaney, Eamonn Galdubh and Laoise Kelly.

"These tunes have been around for hundreds of years,” Nic Fhionnghaile says of the appeal of trad. “Then there are new ones that adapt. You can enjoy it in any sense, traditional or modern. That’s what I love most.”

TRAD is in cinemas from Friday, May 8.

Stay tuned for Roe McDermott’s full interview with director Lance Daly and star Megan Nic Fhionnghaile, coming soon.