James Connolly, one of the founding fathers of Irish socialism, is soon to get the big screen treatment. The Labour leader, who was executed by the British for his part in the 1916 rising, is the subject of a bio pic, written by Tom Stokes and Frank Allen, which aims to hit the screens in Easter 2006, on the 90th anniversary of the 1916 rising.

The screenplay – working title Nora’s Journey – has been completed and already some of the leading names in contemporary Irish film have confirmed their commitment to the project. Adrian Dunbar – who starred in Neil Jordan’s The Crying Game, John Boorman’s The General and Star Wars – The Phantom Menace has been lined up as director while Peter Mullan, who directed The Magdalene Sisters, will play Connolly. Meanwhile, Pat Duffner – whose credits include My Left Foot, The Field, In The Name Of The Father and Michael Collins – will handle editing duties.
“The film is a daughter’s story of an ordinary man who creates a revolution,” a spokesman for the producer’s told Hot Press, “and of a young woman’s transformation from daughter into revolutionary. Out of this wonderfully dramatic material, our intention is to make the kind of film that’s accessible to everyone.”
The anticipated budget for the film is 10 million euro and the production company, Rascal Films, have set about the task of raising the finance necessary in a novel way. On December 5, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Michael Conaghan, will host the launch of a Public Share offer, which it is anticipated will bring in Euro 1 million.
“We want to give ordinary people an opportunity to participate in having the film made,” says Tom Stokes, who is a cousin of hotpress editor Niall Stokes – and whose grandfather John Stokes was among the troops who occupied Boland’s Mills during the rising. “Film is a high risk business and we’ll be making that abundantly clear to everyone – but what we’re hoping is that people, whether as individuals or groups, will be willing to commit in amounts of o1,000 each.”
It’s an ambitious approach – but one that is likely to be particularly attractive to trade unions and to people in the labour movement.
“We’ve already had a significant number of people who want to be involved in this way,” Stokes adds, “and if enough people come on board it’ll give us the foundation we need to ensure that the film is made in the right way.”
The launch of the investment scheme will take place at the Mansion House on December 5 and a celebration/gig will take place later that evening in the Liberty Hall venue with the line-up to be announced over the next two weeks. Put the date in your diary – and watch this space for further details.