TradFest 2026

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Stephen Rea A Film Retrospective: The Butcher Boy – with introduction by Stephen Rea – 23rd Jan

Celebrating the film career of award-winning actor Stephen Rea, with screenings of 3 of his most renowned movies including The Butcher Boy. In 1960s rural Ireland, 12-year-old Francie Brady creates a fantasy world to escape his violent, alcoholic father and unstable mother. The film will feature an introduction by Stephen Rea.

Stephen Rea A Film Retrospective: Michael Collins – 24th Jan

Michael Collins(1996) is a powerful historical drama charting the life of Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins during the War of Independence and the Civil War. Directed by Neil Jordan and starring Stephen Rea alongside Liam Neeson, the film brings to life the passion, courage, and moral conflict of a nation fighting for freedom. With gripping performances, atmospheric cinematography, and an emotionally charged score, it captures both the heroism and the personal cost of revolution. This compelling film offers an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of Ireland’s struggle for independence and the legacy of one of its most iconic figures.

Stephen Rea A Film Retrospective: Black ’47 – 24th Jan

Black ’47(2018) is a gripping historical thriller set during Ireland’s Great Famine. Starring James Frecheville and Stephen Rea, the film follows an Irish Ranger who deserts the British Army and returns home to find his family destroyed by starvation and oppression. What unfolds is a stark, powerful tale of survival and revenge against a brutal colonial system. With haunting landscapes, intense performances, and unflinching realism, Black ’47 combines western-style storytelling with Irish history. It is a compelling and hard-hitting film that sheds light on one of the darkest chapters in Ireland’s past.