Love and division in Wexford
BY TARA O'LIATH.
In the 1950s, the village of Fethard-on-Sea, Wexford, made
international news headlines when the Catolic Church ordered a
boycott of all Protestants in the village. A Love Divided is the
moving story of the events that led to it.
Brought to the screen by Buena Vista International and Parallel Films
(Last of the High Kings, Amongst Women), the dramatic tale of married
couple Sean Cloney, a Catholic, and Sheila Kelly, a Protestant, is
marvellously written by Stuart Hepburn (Hamish Macbeth, McCallum)
and directed by Syd McCartney.
Starring Liam Cunningham as Sean Cloney and Orla Brady as Sheila this
film is about a love strong enough to endure and survive against all
odds.
By refusing to honour the `ne temere' pledge of raising their
children as Catholics, Sheila and Sean are catapulted into a world
where they become pawns in a battle between churches, and through
pressure put on Sean to have his children ``play for the right team'',
a battle within their relationship.
Sheila, determined to make a stand and fight her corner, flees to
Belfast with her children and on discovering Sean has issued legal
proceedings with the aid of the church, to obtain custody of his
children, she moves to the isolated Orkney Islands.
Following her disappearance, the previously quiet community becomes a
battle ground of sectarian violence and intimidation as Fr. Stafford,
played by Tony Doyle, accuses Reverend Fischer (Jim Norton) of
conspiring to help Sheila ``kidnap'' her children and declares a
boycott of all Protestants in the village.
What follows is a beautifully written account of Sean and Sheila's
love that proves stronger than the pull on either side, the fear and
hatred and ultimately the divison that external circumstances had on
their own relationship.
A Love Divided goes on release nationwide on 14 May.
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