‘An Klondike’ has been selected as the Closing Film for the 2015 Galway Film Fleadh taking place from 7-12 July.
The film is the first Western to be made in Ireland and tells the story of the Connolly Brothers; three Irish emigrants who travel from Montana to the Yukon during the Klondike gold rush of the 1890’s in the hope of striking it rich. The film follows the Connolly brothers to the town of Dominion Creek where they become embroiled in a deadly feud with Jacob Hopkins, the man who runs the town. When Séamus Connolly shoots Jacob’s son in a duel, Jacob vows revenge.
The series is produced by Galway based company Abú Media and series producer Pierce Boyce states: “With An Klondike we have created an ambitious, character-driven drama that has international appeal, but with a distinctly Irish edge. The series will be bilingual with the majority of the dialogue in Irish. As they would have done at the time, the Irish characters speak to each other in Irish and speak with the American and English characters in English. The film has already attracted international interest and has secured an international distribution deal with Content Media.”
The film’s director Dathaí Keane said: “I’m delighted that ‘An Klondike’ has been chosen to close the Fleadh. I’m from Galway myself and have been coming to the Fleadh since I was in school, so to premiere my first feature here is a real honour.”
As part of the production the mining town of Dominion Creek was constructed on the grounds of the Glengowla mines outside Oughterard in Co. Galway. Production Designer Padraig O’Neill and his team spent months researching and designing each building that makes up the town.
The Connolly brothers are being played by Owen McDonnell, Dara Devaney and Sean T. Ó Meallaigh. Other cast members include Siobhán O’Kelly, Séamus Hughes, Steve Wall, Ned Dennehy, Robert O’Mahoney, Megan Riordain, Bríd Ní Neachtain and Native American actor Julian Black Antelope.
‘An Klondike’ is written by Marcus Fleming, director of photography is Colm Hogan, costume designer is Triona Lillis and music is by Steve Lynch. The film was financed by BAI, TG4 and Section 481.
The feature film will screen at 8.30pm on Sunday July 12. Director Dathaí Keane and members of the cast are slated to attend.
