'100 Years of Change'

As Mabel Wallace marked 100 years in 2023, local filmmaker Nicholas Ryan Purcell decided to document her life and produce a new feature-length documentary dedicated to her in '100 Years of Change.'

Mabel was born in September 1923 and she was raised in Shinrone and has lived there all her married life. Her late husband Hume passed away in 2000. The documentary details many of Mabel's life experiences such as her memories of the first family car in 1930, cycling to Thurles races, travelling by horse and trap to Punchestown Races, when rural electrification first arrived in 1950s and the rationing of food during WWII.

The main topics that Mabel discusses are the old agricultural methods that she remembers such as a horse-drawn reaper and binder pulled by horses, making butter and watching a neighbour making bread in an open hearth fire. There is a more recent focus on Mabel's extensive community work as she has been involved with Meals on Wheels and Daffodil Day.

With Mabel's living testimony as our guide, the viewer will venture into the heart of the Church of Ireland tradition in a rural parish.

Dir. Nicholas Ryan Purcell I Ireland I 2024 I 110 mins

This screening is free to over 65's as part of The Bealtaine Festival