Storyline: Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN follows lifelong friends Padraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson), who find themselves at an impasse when Colm unexpectedly puts an end to their friendship. A stunned Padraic, aided by his sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) and troubled young islander Dominic (Barry Keoghan), endeavours to repair the relationship, refusing to take no for an answer. But Padraic's repeated efforts only strengthen his former friend's resolve and when Colm delivers a desperate ultimatum, events swiftly escalate, with shocking consequences.
Top Billing Cast: Kerry Condon as Siobhan Suilleabhain
Colin Farrell as Padraic Suilleabhain
Barry Keoghan as Dominic Kearney
Brendan Gleeson as Colm Doherty
All of the main characters' sweaters in the film were hand-knit by the same elderly man specifically for the film. He also made doubles of each sweater. He was not present on set and did not meet the actors before creating the pieces for them.
"Banshee" is the anglicized term for "bean sí," which means "woman of the fairy mound" or "fairy woman" in old Irish. In Irish folklore, a banshee is a spirit who heralds the death of a family member, usually by screaming, wailing, shrieking, or keening.
The J.J. Devine Public House was purpose-built for the production on Achill Island in County Mayo, Ireland. However, since a planning permit had not been acquired, the pub had to be demolished when the film wrapped.
Jenny, the miniature donkey who played Colin Farrell's pet (also named Jenny), had never been in a movie before. She was not a trained animal actor and seemed to dislike the experience (Farrell joked that she was the biggest diva on set). A second donkey with experience on film sets, Nosy Rosy, served as her double.
Colin Farrell had several incidents with animals during the shoot. Jenny the miniature donkey kicked him while he was hand-feeding her. The dog portraying Brendan Gleeson's pet bit him. And a horse leading a cart that Farrell was in tried to reverse the cart into the ocean.
Brendan Gleeson is a skilled fiddle player in real life and played his own music in this film, as he did in Michael Collins (1996), The Grand Seduction (2013), and Cold Mountain (2003).
