Bringing ‘Brown Bread’ home to Longford means world to Shaunagh Connaire

“Bringing 'Brown Bread' home to Longford meant the world to me,” declared writer / director Shaunagh Connaire after her short film was launched before a very appreciative local audience at Backstage Theatre on Saturday, July 12.

‘Brown Bread’ is Shaunagh’s debut short film and it recently enjoyed its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh.

A double Emmy-nominated documentarian, Shaunagh enthused, “It was incredibly special to share the film with friends, family, and especially with my godmother’s children and husband — the people who shaped this story in more ways than they know. I’m extremely grateful to all the Backstage crew for hosting us.”

Shot entirely in Longford, Brown Bread is grounded in the landscapes and people that inspired it. The short film was generously supported by Creative Ireland, and Associate Producers Anne Heraty, and Sam and Amelia Dennigan.

WATCH | A taste of 'Brown Bread', the new short film by Longford's Shaunagh Connaire

The film features an outstanding cast including Fionnula Flanagan, Dermot Crowley, Katie McGrath, Kevin McGahern and Mary Mahon.

The inspiration for 'Brown Bread' came from Shaunagh's own experience of being unable to return to Ireland from the U.S. for her godmother’s funeral.

At the centre of the ‘Brown Bread’ story is Aine (played by Katie McGrath), a woman returning to Ireland from New York to attend her godmother’s memorial mass, which stirs up old tensions, grief, and unspoken affection in her rural family home. It focuses on her strained relationship with her mother, Betty (played by Emmy Award-winning actress Fionnula Flanagan).

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Veteran actor Dermot Crowley, who plays Áine’s father Seamus, praised the script’s emotional subtlety and he joined Shaunagh on stage after the screening for a fascinating and insightful conversation with RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan.

‘Brown Bread’ is a moving piece about what it means to come home after leaving, and finding comfort in the recognisable, quieter life. With a touch of humour mixed with poignant moments, Shaunagh’s sensitive writing and engaging dialogue bring so much to the screen.

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Betty’s stubborn, loving character works well with Aine’s frustrated, ambitious personality – they both connect again by baking bread together.