Following a violent attack on a night out, Cian O’Reilly (Éanna Hardwicke), a promising young Gaelic footballer, sustains a life-changing injury. Cian, a young farmer, had been happy with his lot: working contentedly alongside his father (Lorcan Cranitch) on the farm, partying with friends, and performing well on the pitch. His world is shattered when a serious head injury forces him off the field, and he struggles to reimagine an identity in the small midlands town where GAA is at the beating heart of the community. Comfort arrives in the shape of an old girlfriend (Danielle Galligan), home from London to nurse her ailing father. Lakelands, the debut feature from writer/ directors Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney – set in their hometown of Granard, Co. Longford – captures the cadence of local banter, and the idiosyncrasies and pleasures of midlands youth culture, celebrating lives that are multifaceted, complex and as inherently dramatic as satisfying.

Winner of Best Irish Film at Galway Film Fleadh 2022 and Best Film at Kerry International Film Festival 2022.

This opening night screening at 18.20 will be followed by Q&A with Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney with cast members Éanna Hardwicke and Danielle Galligan hosted by Dr Seán Crosson (University of Galway). Other screenings will be on sale on Tuesday, May 2nd.

Notes by Sunniva O’Flynn