‘King of The Travellers’, directed by Mark O’Connor and distributed by Wildcard, has secured a DVD release and is now available in Ireland following a successful theatrical run in Irish cinemas this April.
A graduate of film at Ballyfermot College and the New York Film Academy, Mr O’Connor also directed Dublin gangland drama ‘Between the Canals’ and the forthcoming ‘Stalker’ about a homeless man trying to rescue his friend from drug dealers.
The plot in ‘King of the Travellers’ follows John Paul Moorehouse (newcomer and traveller actor John Connors) as he falls in love with the daughter of the man he suspects killed his father.
Other cast members include Peter Coonan (‘Love/Hate’), Michael Collins (‘Man About Dog’) and a large ensemble of non-actors from the travelling community.
Although the film boasts visceral scenes of bare-knuckle boxing, it interweaves the violence with a Shakespearan love story inspired by Romeo and Juliet.
Mr O’Connor said: ‘We made a film which I hope is entertaining for audiences, as well as being of cultural importance to the traveller community. It was a big risk casting traveller non-actors in the film, but I felt it was necessary to give the film real authenticity.’
‘King of the Travellers’ is produced by Cormac Fox and John Wallace for Vico Films, and supported by the Irish Film Board, the BAI and TV3.
