Kilkenny production company behind film shot on the killing of Bridget Cleary

A Kilkenny production company has shot a film on Bridget Cleary who was burned by her husband as he believed her to be a witch.

Her horrific death in Cloneen, Co Tipperary in 1825 was a cause célèbre in Victorian England and even reached the hallowed pages of the New York Times.Other theories suggest that he was not particularly superstitious and just a jealous husband who used old beliefs about fairies and pishrogues as a cloak for murder.  Many people in the environs of Cloneen and Drangan participated in the torture  and subsequent killing of the misfortunate housewife. 

Cloneen natives Brian Clancy and Anne Williamson have collaborated once again to bring the story to the silver screen.

Brian had written a play about Bridget Cleary last year and Anne got an idea to write Bridget’s story as a screenplay.

 ‘I just wanted to acknowledge Bridget and mark her life and gruesome death,’ Anne says. 

Anne and Brian worked on a script over the winter and the film was shot in the area last week by the exceptionally talented  Dicemen Productions in  Kilkenny. 

Mullinahone native, Adrian Brett functioned as the equally talented sound man. It was a big task to organise and direct the many actors but one that did not intimidate veteran director Anne who has overseen upwards of 27 plays and a few films with The Fionn MacCumhaill Players.

 Local writer Brian was happy with the final outcome.

‘It was great to see the talent that is hidden in a small area like this and great to tell Bridget’s story and reclaim her identity as a woman who was murdered by her husband,’ he said.

 Anne has also commissioned a song for the film written by Chris Kavanagh, the well known songwriter and singer.

 She says that the song, The Maid of Old Cloneen is  ‘haunting and beautiful.’ 

The film is presently in the editing stages and it is expected to be premiered in the Cloneen area in the fall of the year. It will be on wider release after the premiere. Watch this space.