Waterford sisters feature in new RTÉ documentary to explore the tragic death of their grandfather
Mary McGillick and Mairéad Bolger, granddaughters donate his original writings the National Library’s archive collection. Photo Credit: Naoise Culhane
Rian na Fola is a new one-hour documentary that investigates the century-old murder of a Kerry man, Patrick M. Foley, uncovering long-buried secrets on both sides of the Atlantic in the early 1900's.
Patrick M. Foley, writer, historian, nationalist and native of West Kerry published two important histories of the Daingean Uí Chúis peninsula and Blasket Islands shortly after the turn of the 20th century.
However, his writings, adventurous life and violent death have been largely forgotten.
The Irish-language documentary presented by former Kerry footballer and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta broadcaster Dara Ó Cinnéide, unearths the twists and turns of an intriguing life led by the Kerry man whose journey takes viewers back to Depression-era America, from the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht in West Kerry to the dust belt of Oklahoma.
Patrick M Foley's granddaughters Mary and her sister Mairéad both feature in the documentary.
They both grew up in Tramore, Waterford, with Mary now living in Wexford, and Mairéad in Dublin.
In the documentary, Mary and Mairéad share photographs and stories about their grandfather with Dara, including about his murder in the US.
On Wednesday April 29, Mary and Mairéad donated Patrick M Foley's original writings to the National Library of Ireland in Dublin, following the premiere screening of the documentary.
The programme is available on the RTÉ Player.
