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song of the sea

Chris O'Dowd's secrets and the best pubs in Kilkenny: the team behind Song of the Sea tell all

Their nickname for Brendan Gleeson is quite something.

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THIS FRIDAY, SONG of the Sea will be released in Irish cinemas.

The film, which was nominated for an Academy Award earlier this year, is the latest project from the Kilkenny-based Cartoon Saloon and features the voices of the likes of Brendan Gleeson, Lisa Hannigan, Fionnuala Flanagan and Moone Boy’s David Rawle.

Set in 1980s Ireland, the film is about a young boy who discovers his younger sister, Saoirse, is a selkie. The pair embark on an adventure to help save both herself and other supernatural creatures like her.

Film Festivals and Indie Films / YouTube

The film successfully marries ancient Celtic mythology to modern Ireland and, as you might have guessed, it’s all sorts of magical.

It has its roots in an incident years ago whereby director Tomm Moore happened upon a seal cull on a beach.

At the time, a local told him that such a thing would never have happened in the past on account of the significance of seals in ancient Irish folklore. Afterwards, Moore sought to tell a story that would knit contemporary Ireland with old Ireland.

We were in Dingle years ago and we saw a seal cull, and it was just that idea that the folklore used to bind us more to the landscape. I think the whole country got caught up in the rush towards becoming a globalised, capitalist society. And there’s something lost with the progress. I just want to gently remind people of some of the old connections to the landscape that the stories would have given us.

Despite being such a quintessentially Irish film, Song of the Sea has been incredibly well-received internationally, garnering excellent reviews (98% on Rotten Tomatoes, if you don’t mind) and that Oscar nomination — the second for Cartoon Saloon.

DailyEdge.ie ventured to the MC Cill Airne on Dublin’s North Wall Quay to catch up with director Tomm Moore and Moone Boy star David Rawle and learn secrets about Chris O’Dowd…

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And find out what to call Brendan Gleeson should we ever meet him.

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Here we go.

DailyEdge.ie / YouTube

Song of the Sea is in Irish cinemas from July 10th. 

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