A Love Divided

• • Director

    Syd Macartney

  • Credits

    Producers: Gerry Gregg, Alan Maloney, Tim Palmer. Writers: Deirdre Dowling, Gerry Gregg, Stuart Hepburn

  • Principal Cast

    Orla Brady, Liam Cunningham, Sarah Bolger, Nicole Bohan, Jim Norton

• Category

  Feature
  

Based on real events in 1950s Ireland, A Love Divided is a savage indictment of religious intolerance in mid-century Ireland, and a celebration of a woman who opposed it. The story begins with Protestant woman Sheila’s (Orla Brady) marriage to Catholic Sean (Liam Cunningham); their decision to live in Ireland means that they fall under laws which state any child they have must be raised as a Catholic. Sheila’s refusal to submit to this demand scandalises their small village and even her husband is uneasy with this decision to oppose the Catholic Church. An escalation of events provokes the Church to demand that Catholics boycott all Protestant businesses in the village. The long-lasting divisive impact of the Church’s action on the village is mirrored in the strain placed on the young couple’s marriage.

98 minutes, Ireland/UK, 1999, Colour