One-off screening of 'Rebel Wife' film in West Cork

A special screening of a film about the life of Mary Jane O’Donovan Rossa took place in Clonakilty recently.

The film, Rebel Wife — the story of Mary Jane O’Donovan Rossa, focuses on the life of Clonakilty’s Mary Jane Irwin, a Republican patriot, poet, and political campaigner, as well as the third wife of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa.

The special one-off screening took place at The Park Cinema and was attended by Ms Irwin and Mr O’Donovan Rossa’s great-grandson, Williams Rossa Cole, who made and produced the film.

Also in attendance was another great-grandchild of the couple, Eileen Byrne Quinn.

Prior to the screening Mr Rossa Cole delivered a welcoming speech where he suggested that Ms Irwin should be recognised in Clonakilty by a public memorial and on a national level by including her story on the history curriculum of secondary schools.

The film complements another of Mr Rossa Cole’s works, Rebel Rossa, which was released in 2016.