Fifty years since Ryan’s Daughter shook up West Kerry
FIFTY years ago this month a crew from Faraway Productions was up on the side of Maoilinn na Ceathrún laying out the site of the fictional village of Kirrary - the set piece at the heart of the film Ryan’s Daughter, which was to have a profound social and economic impact on West Kerry.
The David Lean film, which was released behind time and over budget in December 1970, brought the dramatic scenery of West Kerry to a global audience in glorious Panavision, kick-starting the tourism industry that has now become the economic mainstay of the peninsula. Ryan’s Daughter had a huge social impact as well, opening the eyes of an insular community to the possibilities of a life not confined by the strictures of tradition and subsistence wages.
The filming of Ryan’s Daughter during 1969 gave local people opportunities to earn undreamt of incomes and then there were the shenanigans of the cast and crew that earned a place in local folklore. It was a special time and one that should be remembered and celebrated, according to John Moriarty of Lord Baker’s who has adorned the gable of his Main Street restaurant with a gigantic Ryan’s Daughter poster to call the forthcoming 50th anniversary of the filming to mind.
Having graduated from the Rockwell Hotel and Catering School, John had just started work as a chef in the recently opened Skellig Hotel when filming began. The hotel had been block-booked by Faraway Productions for a year and its most honoured guest was film director David Lean who enjoyed the unheard of extravagance of a reserved restaurant table overlooking the harbour and a garage that was specially built to accommodate his Rolls Royce.
John recalls making an Irish stew for lead actor Robert Mitchum to bring home to his wife in Santa Barbara, California, (a town that’s now twinned with Dingle) and having the “misfortune” of lending his Austin Wolseley to actor Christopher Jones who emptied the petrol tank and proffered the rather inadequate gift of a Swiss Roll in recompense.
There are many other stories out there as well, of course, and John feels that the 50th anniversary of the filming would be a good time to hear the recollections of those who were involved with the film and witnessed its dramatic impact on West Kerry.
Another man who shares this view is Micheál De Mórdha, who feels “it’s about time somebody wrote about the filming from the local angle”. Micheál previously touched on this in his book ‘An Rialtas ab Fhearr!’ (the best government) and he is now returning to the subject to document people’s stories of a momentous period in the life of West Kerry.
The book, which is due to be published late next year, will include lots of photographs and interviews with local people about their experience of ‘The Faraways’ – a West Kerry term that generally referred to the cast, the crew and everything to do with Ryan’s Daughter. Among those interviewed by Michéal – in a recording he made 25 years ago – is the late Kate Ashe of Ashe’s bar on Main Street, who claims to have introduced the concept of pub grub to Dingle when she fed some of the Faraways with a pot of stew she was cooking for her family.
Micheál is keen to hear from anybody with stories and photos that might be included in the book, and he can be contacted on 087 7436420 or email: michealdemordha@gmail.com.
Meanwhile, Dingle Peninisula Tourism Alliance is also looking at marking the anniversary of the film that, despite being slated after its release in December 1970, won two Academy Awards as well as a string of Golden Globe and BAFTA awards and is still bringing tourists to West Kerry.