A Monaghan man found himself part of this year's Venice Film Festival where his first film - staring Liam Neeson - premiered to much acclaim. Mark McNally initially wrote the script and entered it in the New Writers' Focus competition in Belfast where it emerged victorious.
Speaking to Shannonside Northern Sound, the local script writer said the experience has been like "a dream come true". The Belfast-based writer highlighted how the finished product was achieved through a collaborative approach.
He added that it all began at the youth theatre in Monaghan and he is now "in the throws" of what's coming next. "I was very fortunate when I was young because when I was about 10 or 11, the Monaghan Youth Theatre was first created by Crista Hamilton," continued Mark.
"At that stage I hadn't had much interaction with creative arts, except maybe with my local community hall but other than that it was rather limited. Being involved in the local youth theatre allowed me to dip my toe into that creative sphere and help me to realise that I had a great love for it and then a great passion for it."
