S5E10: Luke McManus – Filming the Song of a Dublin Road

Join us on a stroll along North Circular Road from Phoenix Park to the Dublin
Docklands with our guide Luke McManus, the documentary filmmaker of the
award-winning North Circular which opens in New York City on July 28th.

Rendered in graphic black & white over a soundtrack of local North Circular
musicians, the film gives voice to narratives from the history of the city and
nation, from colonialism to mental health, from women’s liberation to the
battle to save the legendary folk revival venue the Cobblestone Pub from the
wrecking ball.

Growing up in Bray, the home of Ardmore Studios, Luke recounts that first
moment he realized that he was a director, why Humphrey Bogart holds such
a lofty position in his pantheon of film greats, and the many ways to make a
living in film.

Co-host John Lee diverts him into a conversation about horse racing which
Luke explored in his film about the legendary ‘chaser Arkle and his TV series
on the women in the sport, Jump Girls. Martin Nutty gets Luke talking about
Crainn na hÉireann (The Trees of Ireland), the documentary series he did
with past guest Manchán Magan .

But the centerpiece of the episode is North Circular, where Luke celebrates
the beauty in urban grit, the serendipity found along the street, the
juxtaposition of squatters and the shadows of skyscraping construction
cranes, and the expressive power of music to honor the tragic and celebrate
the spirit, all ending on an exuberant high note provided by Irish women in
music and sport.

Step off with us on our trek through North Circular with Luke McManus

Photo Credit: Marcelline Roulleau

Links
Websites

• North Circular - Film website
• Luke McManus - Personal site
• Luke McManus - Vimeo

Luke's Social Media

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Instagram