Big-hearted director Jim Sheridan welcomed Mark Sheehan and Cheryl Murphy, who resided in Apollo House over Christmas, to the Audi Dublin International Film Festival gala screening of his new film The Secret Scripture tonight.
Late late year, the Home Sweet Home group and many campaigners took over the NAMA-controlled Apollo House in Dublin’s City Centre in a bid for it to be used as housing for people sleeping on the streets.
However, the residents were eventually forced to leave in January of this year, and now Home Sweet Home continue to work tirelessly on housing for the ex-Apollo House residents.
And tonight, Jim Sheridan proved that he has a heart of gold as he invited newly engaged couple Mark (25) and Cheryl (24) to the premiere of his new film at The Savoy Cinema.
All smiles: Director Jim Sheridan posed for a picture with newly engaged Mark Sheehan and Cheryl Murphy | BRIAN MCEVOY
According to the Dublin People, the former Apollo House residents are now happy to have a safe place to live in Fr McVerry’s house. Mark proposed to Cheryl on Christmas Day, and the couple are planning a wedding for July 1 this year.
Based on Sebastian Barry’s acclaimed novel, Jim Sheridan’s first Irish-set film since The Boxer (1997) explores the life and history of Roseanne McNulty (Vanessa Redgrave), a woman confined to the Roscommon Mental Hospital for 50 years.
As the institution is about to close, Dr. Grene (Eric Bana) is sent to see whether she’s fit to be released. He’s intrigued by Roseanne’s eccentricities and her fierce attachment to her Bible, in which she’s been keeping a diary since she was first admitted.
As he delves into her past, Dr. Grene gets to know the younger Roseanne (played by Rooney Mara) and eventually learns the terrible truth about her confinement. Shot in the starkly beautiful west of Ireland, The Secret Scripture uncovers a dark chapter in Ireland’s history.
