A documentary that will be broadcast this Thursday night has a local connection.
‘Seán’ explores the life of the legendary Seán Boylan, one of the most respected football managers in GAA history.
The documentary was edited by Boyle native Grainne Creighton from the Carrick Road and follows the story of Seán back to his childhood.
Grainne, who is daughter of well known Boyle publicans Eddie and Sylvia Creighton, works as a film editor in London, primarily in television advertising.
‘Sean’ uncovers how an unassuming young boy with “not a notion in the world” ended up becoming one of the most successful and longest reining GAA managers to date.
Boylan managed the Meath Senior Football Team for 23 years throughout the 80s and 90s, during which he led them to win four All Ireland Senior Football Championships, three National League Titles and eight Leinster Senior Football Championships. Alongside all of this he ran a thriving herbal medicine business passed down through generations of his family.
The documentary weaves the twist and turns of his personal life with the success story of Seán Boylan the football manager.
Steeped in GAA nostalgia with archive footage the documentary features interviews with former iconic players, including Colm O’Rourke, Graham Geraghty and Trevor Giles. As they express their immense respect and gratitude for him, we uncover how Boylan was more than just a manager both on and off the pitch.
This heart warming and insightful documentary reveals a vulnerable, inspiring and empathetic side to Seán that will endear him all the more to GAA fans across the island of Ireland.
“Seán” was directed and produced by Alan Bradley. Bradley is a young up and coming documentary film maker, writer and actor. His previous documentary Show Day aired in a prime time slot on RTÉ One in Summer 2018.
Most recently Alan has written and performed his hit one man play Grounds for Concern which was premiered in a Croke Park dressing room as part of a sell out Dublin Fringe Festival run, the play subsequently went on a sell out tour in Ireland and was listed by The Sunday Times as a top pick of Theatre alongside Medea at The Gate Theatre.
Review: ”Gaelic football drama scores a crucial point, Bradley tells his story with verve and
veracity” (The Irish Times)
‘Sean’ is edited by Gráinne Creighton who met Alan Bradley at a filmmaking networking night in London and connected over a love of making short films.
* It will be broadcast at 10.10pm on RTE One on Thursday night
