Tralee Library to screen the excellent Ballymun Library as part of Bealtaine Festival on Thursday 17th May

As part of filled Bealtaine Festival programme this month Tralee Library are screening director Frank Berry's excellent documentary Ballymun Lullaby. Berry,  who has received high critical acclaim recently for his compelling prison drama Michael Inside documents the story of music teacher Ron Cooney who has been working in the Republic of Ireland's only high-rise housing estate for fifteen years. During this time he has seen the area undergo a dramatic transformation, including the demolition of six of it's seven tower blocks. The young people of Ballymun have had an extraordinary experience, and Ron sets out to produce a collection of music that gives voice to their story. Working with composer Daragh O'Toole, Ron's ambition is to create a 'world class' collection of music for his talented students to play and write lyrics for. This music will challenge the negative views many still hold of the area - views that have the potential to hold his students back, and undermine the aims of the Ballymun Music Programme. The music that is produced attracts the attention of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and is soon recorded by them in a unique collaboration with the students. A dynamic funny and driven man, despite his own health problems, what Ron and his students have achieved is simply amazing. 'Ballymun Lullaby' is a story that needs to be heard.
With contributions from ex-Ballymun natives including Glen Hansard and Peter McVerry this 2011 feature was a big hit on the festival film circuit, screening in Dublin, Cork, Boston and Chicago Film festivals and earned high critical acclaim on it's initial release with RTE's Alan Corr stating "Uplifting, full of hope, moving and beautifully made, Ballymun Lullaby is a small and lovely film."
With the film due to begin at 6:30pm on Thursday 17th May this compelling documentary is sure to draw the crowds for a feature that is too good to miss!