Moylagh man asked to appear in Oscar nominated film says he "didn't think it was big deal" at time

A MUSICIAN from Moylagh who was asked personally by Brendan Gleeson to play a part in Oscar nominated film, The Banshees of Inisherin says he "didn't think it was a big deal at the time!"

Accordion player Oliver Farrelly who met the actor in the 90s through the traditional music scene says Gleeson phoned him up and offered him the part of a musician in the movie also starring Colin Farrell.

"I have known Brendan Gleeson on and off for thirty years, he phoned me up and said you got to be in this movie we are making, and I said ok, great.

"I didn't think it was a big deal at the time.

"I'm in the pub scene, if you blink for too long you'll miss me! It's the session scene in the pub myself, Brendan Gleeson and John Carty play a few tunes. You can hear the music as Colin Farrell's character approaches the pub."

"I knew it was going to be a pretty big movie, but I didn't pass much heed of it at the time."

Oliver met Brendan Gleeson before his rise to fame through mutual friends in the traditional music scene as he explains:

"I know Brendan for thirty years, we became good friends through the music scene, back in the 90s and 2000s we used to play music together, I think he might have been in Glenroe at the time. Brendan was always involved in the sessions around Dublin before he was ever a film man"

Due to covid restrictions, a tight ship was in place but the Oldcastle trad musician described filming as "a wonderful experience." He added:

"It was brilliant, covid was very strong at the time, everyone had to get tested every morning and sometimes twice a day, there was a great atmosphere, it was really wonderful, we were working hard but having good fun."

"I went to Galway a couple of times to be suited up but then when the actual shoot came for that scene I was there for about four days

"There was great camaraderie , lovely scenery and we were well looked after very well.

"The official première was in Venice but it premièred in Dublin as well as we were all there, all of the cast, that was a great up at the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield."

The Oldcastle man who is in his late 70s says music has always been a big part of his life, he added that:

"I have been playing music on and off most of my life on a casual basis, I have never played professionally or anything like that. I lived in England for a while and I came home and my brother who has departed since was big into his music and he knew where the good sessions were over in Sligo and Leitrim, there was always a ceili house in Oldcastle.

"Now, we have a monthly session in Fore across the border in Co, Westmeath."

Oliver has another claim to fame being one of the original musicians to play in the famous Cobblestone Pub in Dublin.

"When I lived in Dublin myself and two others were the first of a few who started music in the Cobblestone back in the 90s. Back then it had a completely different crowd, Tom Mulligan took it over and it's gone on to be an icon of a place now. "