Bridget Cleary and the tragic ending of her life is to be the focus of a feature film next week in Dungarvan.
She is known throughout history as the last victim in Ireland of the historical ‘witch’ burnings.
Dominated by her husband, understood now to have been violent, controlling, and bitter of her successes, she died at his hands while he claimed to have lost his wife to the fairies.
The story of Bridget Cleary
A changeling she was not, and yet, as the film depicts, she was beaten, burned alive, and buried in the dead of night in an unmarked grave away from her home.
Written by Cloneen Co. Tipperary natives Anne Williamson and Brian Clancy, the film has achieved extraordinary success on the international circuit.
Bridget Cleary Film Success
Anne herself was named Best First-Time Female Director at the Indie X Film Festival in Los Angeles.
The circuit has also included airings in Rhode Island, and soon to be London, as well as many parts of Ireland.
On Thursday, September 10th the film will air at a special screening in Dungarvan with a Q&A to follow afterwards.
Play to listen back to the interview with Anne in full as she discusses the film and the wider story of Bridget Cleary and the reaction in Cloneen to the film so many years later.
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