FATHER DES – THE WAY HE SAW IT

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Director: Vincent Kinnaird

Stars: 

Duration: 81 mins

Language: English

Genre: Documentary

Rating: PG

Original Release: 12 August 2021 (Belfast)

 

 

 

Internationally renowned actor, Stephen Rea narrates the life-story of Fr Des Wilson, who was affectionately known to many as the people’s priest.

Fr Des, a priest with a socialist and humanitarian outlook, spent a full life helping those in need as the British empire’s hold on northern Ireland began to unravel from 1969 onwards. Amid civil strife he followed the path of Jesus in caring for the downtrodden, and for a long period was ostracised by the hierarchy of his own Church for doing this.  Courageously though he continued to work for justice and against inequality to the end of his life in November 2019.

An extraordinary man in extraordinary circumstances.

Stephen Rea is a great advocate of Fr. Des and has been involved in a number of his community theatre productions over the years.

The film’s narrative is primarily recounted in Des’ own words, but has other contributions from Stephen Rea, Rev Brian Smeaton – who was a Church of Ireland minister on the Shankhill road in 1969. Bernadette Devlin-McAliskey – Civil Rights activist, MP and Community activist. Eilish Rooney – A senior figure in the Transitional Justice Institute at Ulster University, as well as a Ballymurphy resident and key figure in Springhill Community House. Ciaran Cahill – A lead figure in Springhill Community House and very close friend of Des. Lelia Doolan – A prominent Irish film and theatre producer and long time friend of Des. The late Noelle Ryan, Frank Cahill and Fr Brian Mullan, massively important people in Des’ life also feature in the documentary through archive footage.