Film made on Shinrone woman’s long life
Local award-winning film-maker Nicholas Ryan-Purcell has completed a new documentary about a woman from Shinrone nearing 100 years of age that will get its first screening next month in Birr.
Mabel Wallace will feature in the documentary, entitled ‘Down Memory Lane with Mabel Wallace’ that will be shown on Friday, September 8, at the Birr Theatre and Arts Centre.
Mabel was born on September 18 1923 at Prospect House, Ballingarry, Roscrea. In the documentary she is looking back at the century of change that has occurred since her birth.
She's a daughter of Harry Kenny and Winifred née Sheppard, her mother being the only child of Major Henry Sheppard of Castlesheppard, Ballingarry. Mabel’s uncle Cecil Kenny, a member of the Leinster Regiment, was killed in World War One in France in March 1918.
That tragic event had a big impact on the family and Mabel went on to spend 50 years of her life selling poppies in memory of her uncle and others who died in the conflict. She also has a passion for knitting and has been donating her work for the Fr Peter McVerry Trust for many years.
Mabel’s interesting life prompted Nicholas Ryan-Purcell to produce a feature length documentary dedicated to the century of change she has witnessed over her long life.
Nicholas started production six months ago and has received full backing for his documentary from Mable along with her daughter Kathy Dunne and son Julian.
Mabel grew up in Shinrone and lived in the locality all her married life. In the documentary she recalls highlights such as the purchase of the first family car in 1930, cycling to the races in Thurles and the arrival of rural electrification.
She recalls old methods of farming, butter making, baking bread on an open-hearth fire and learning essential household skills such as sewing and cooking in school.
The documentary provides insights into the heart of the Church of Ireland tradition in the rural parish of Shinrone and the thrills of the Ormond hunt and point-to-point racing.
Mabel married Hume Wallace in 1945, the son of a GP from Roscrea. The couple moved into Ballincor House, a big dwelling with 450 acres, near Shinrone.
superb athlete
Hume, who died in 2000, was an Agricultural Science graduate from Trinity College and a superb athlete.
He was selected to compete in the 400 metres hurdles at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. However, for political reasons, the Irish team never went to Berlin, sparking major disappointment.
The interview for the documentary was conducted by John Kenny and music for the film was composed by Jordan Lewis from Shinrone.
Nicholas Ryan-Purcell is an award winning film-maker who has been particularly lauded for his documentary ‘This is Nicholas: Living with Autism’ in 2018.
The film on his own life living with autism was screened in 28 Irish cinemas and featured on RTÉ’s Nationwide, and led to Nicholas appearing as part of a panel on the Late Late Show.