Lurgan Folklore Short Film Wins Award After Festival Run
A short film retelling the Lurgan legend of Margorie McCall released online on Easter Sunday. The production received funding from Northern Ireland Screen. Olivia Beatty from Lurgan wrote and directed the film.
The story centers on Margorie McCall who died from a fever. Locals buried her quickly to prevent disease spread. Graverobbers targeted her grave for a ring on her finger.
Crew filmed over two days in January 2025 at the Ulster Folk Museum, The Cellar Bar in Lurgan, and Shankill Graveyard where her headstone remains.
The film premiered at the Louth International Film Festival. Marcellus Kearney received a best actor nomination there. It concluded its festival screenings at the Cinemagic On The Pulse Film Festival in Belfast's Queen's Film Theatre. The film won the best live action fantastical award at that event earlier this month.
Screenings occurred in Roscommon, Donegal, Kerry, Chicago, Omaha, and Toronto.