The TG4 Finné episode I directed about “Limerick’s own Billy Elliot” Roy Galvin will be broadcast on TG4 on Wednesday March 9th, at 9.30pm, and be available to view thereafter on TG4 Player.

The programme charts Roy’s childhood in Limerick city centre where the streets were his playground, and what it was like for him growing up gay when that phenomenon supposedly didn’t exist in Limerick at the time.  We follow Roy’s blossoming as an artist, his move up to the capital to be a professional musician with Jury’s Irish Cabaret and the world that opened up to him in Dublin – disco dancing at Flikkers nightclub, decriminalisation, the discovery of ballet and his own transformation into Ireland’s first homegrown Irish ballet dancer, all the way through to the recent advent marriage equality – and his own marriage.   Embodying the incredible social change in Ireland over the last 50 years, Roy dances us through his life and times, from disco to ballet to Sean Nós, interspersed with era defining archive from David Norris, and more.  There is even some knitting.

I was delighted to work with the great team at TUA films on this project – producer Aisling Ní Fhlaithearta (who valiantly went beyond the call of duty when she jumped in to Roy’s adult ballet class at Dance Limerick with me); DOP Jass Foley; additional camera Eoin Kelly-Smith; Ailbhe Ní Donnachadh; editor Conall de Cléir, and of course series producer supremo Paddy Hayes.  Coming from Indie world, it was a pleasure to have the backup and support of such a talented professional team. What a treat.

I had been admiring Finné on TG4 for a long time, and it is a dream come true to get the opportunity not only to direct an episode, but also for it to be the grand finale of 4 series of this epic award-winning series on social change in Ireland over the last 50 years.

I hope you enjoy the finished product and would love to hear your thoughts on the programme if it inspires any.

Bigí linn!

Roy Galvin and the sadly recently deceased Katherine Lewis, in training with Myrtle Lambkin fadó

Roy in BAC