Weeshie's Week

Christie Hennessy - The Messenger Boy

October 23rd, 2010
by Weeshie Fogarty

The 11th Annual Kerry Film Festival has a jam packed calendar of wonderful events, a mix of popular old venues and screenings that offer something for everyone!

One of the highlights is sure to be the screening of MESSENGER BOY: CHRISTIE HENNESSY, a wonderful documentary about one of Tralee's favourite sons, Christie Hennessy.

The documentary was shot by Bill Hughes in late 2007. In December of that year Christie Hennessy lost his brave battle with the disease Asbestosis. He was only diagnosed with the illness in May 2007 and he worked tirelessly and relentlessly until his last breath, writing and recording with some of Ireland's leading artists including Christy Moore, Mary Black, Tommy Fleming, Moya Brennan and Finbar Furey.

In a series of deeply personal interviews with director Bill Hughes, shot in October and November in Dublin and London, Christie opened his heart and openly discussed his illness and the prospect of dying, while also revisiting his sometimes colourful and often challenging past, particularly his chronic dyslexia, his crippling nervous breakdown and his struggle to be accepted as an artist in his own right.

MESSENGER BOY: CHRISTIE HENNESSY will be preceded by a short on-stage interview that will see Christie's daughter, Hermione, talking to Radio Kerry's Weeshie Fogarty. Events will kick off in Siamsa Tíre on Saturday, October 30th, at 8:00 pm.

"The Christie Hennessy documentary is sure to be a real treat for all," said Jason O' Mahony, Director of Kerry Film Festival. "It's an intimate, touching and very personal little film and will appeal to all Christie's fans, while the human story transcends the music and will appeal to all. We're absolutely delighted that Christie's daughter Hermione has agreed to do an interview before the film and would like to express our thanks to Hermione and also to Weeshie Fogarty who will interview her."




 
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