22 CinÉireann / January 2018
Dark Lies the Island
After I'd finished with Metal Heart I went over to Roscommon for Dark Lies the Island. It was proper mad and I loved it. It's a story of sibling rivalry, familial rivalry, lust, and greed, and violence.
It's set in a small town and explores the darker side of the Irish psyche. I love stories like that. One's that just get the small town scene. And then there was the draw of Kevin Barry's writing.
Ian Fitzgibbon is a fantastic director. He would just give you a little note and he would ask you to tweak it in a certain way, like the dialing of a notch. As if he was in charge of a symphony and you don't know how you understand it, but you do understand it. He has it down to every detail. He has it down across the board.
Working with Cathal Watters again as DoP gave me that familiar face on set too. We'd another fantastic cast as well. With Peter Coonan playing my brother I couldn't ask for better. The role plays to all of his strengths. He's a really versatile actor and I got to do a good few scenes with him.
The towns and the lakes of Roscommon are very much a part of
the film and a character in the film
too. Kevin sent me a signed copy of his book when we finished. I was delighted with that. I've been a huge fan of his work for years.
I fit in my role on Striking Out around this time too. It was nice to have a role indoors. And I got to dress smartly too. My parents weren't sure it was me! I play one of Amy Huberman's childhood friends. She doesn't have many friends in the series so it was nice to be able to back her up.
Moe and Peter Coonan in Dark Lies the Island