HALAL DADDY PREMIERE
THE RED CARPET WAS OUT FOR THE CAST AND CREW AT THE OMNIPLEX SLIGO
CAMERAS flashed, TV cameras rolled as the excited crowd watched the stars of a movie shot from start to finish on Sligo soil, parade the red carpet.
The atmosphere was already jubilant - and this was before the Sligo audience got to see their beloved home town in all its glory on the big screen. ‘ Halal Daddy’ which got its Irish premier at the Omniplex last Tuesday evening shows Sligo and its stunning scenery like you have rarely seen it before.
Sweeping pans from Dorrins Strand across to Coney Island dominate - as does broody Benbulben under a sullen sky. There is a clever juxtaposition of industrial Sligo - a dark Deep Water Quay looking back on a colourful multi-ethnic town. Watching this film it’s easy to spot that Strandhill beach and Cullenamore in particular hold a special place in the director’s heart.
Conor McDermott Roe - the writer/director of ‘Halal Daddy’ hails from Sligo. He was among the cast and crew in town for the opening night. He said that his childhood memories of ‘Culleanmore’ and ‘ that wonderful strait out to Coney’ inspired his choice of locations.
Having already shot a movie in Sligo, Swansong, ‘Halal Daddy’ is the second in what he hopes to be a trilogy of films shot entirely in his home county. The premise for his latest creation comes from a real life story - the setting up of a halal meat factory in Ballyhaunis in neighbouring county Mayo. He joked: “Mayo might not be too happy that we took their story and transported it to Sligo. But this movie was always going to be made here.”
Halal Daddy follows the exploits of Raghdan, a young British-Indian Muslim who moves to Sligo. Conor described the comedy as ‘a film with a message of hope.’ And there is an undeniable uplifting charm to the story and how it is executed for the big screen. There are obvious laughs thanks to the excellent cast and comedic genius of Colm Meaney and Deirdre O’Kane, but there is a clear message too of the importance of integration in modern Ireland, as Deirdre O’Kane put it: “In a world that’s gone a bit mad, we need to remember that essentially we are all the same.”
Much of the film was set in a disused factory on the docks owned by Sligo County Council, who for a ‘ highly competitive rate’ allowed the crew to utilise the space.
The film took a few years to get off the ground due to funding, which is always the biggest obstacle to film-makers. Eventually Conor and his crew managed to secure the necessary cash to complete the movie. ‘Halal Daddy’ cost €2million to make.
It was a proud night for Conor, and a proud night for Sligo. After the screening, the audience were positively beaming and enjoyed a questions and answers session with the cast and crew.
The film opened at cinemas nationwide at the weekend.
THIS MOVIE IS A HIGH QUALITY PROMO FEEDING INTO THE GENERAL IDEA THAT SLIGO IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO BE