Deoch an Dorais

 

Photograph of "the film set"

Jimmy Laffey

 

Photograph of "the film set"

Jimmy Laffey

 

Photograph of "the film set"

Jimmy Laffey

 

Photograph of "the film set"

Jimmy Laffey

 

Jimmy Laffey

 

Jimmy Laffey

 

 

Jimmy Laffey

 

Jimmy Laffey

 

Jimmy Laffey

Much of the documentary film “Deoch an Dorais” which translates as ‘one for the road’ or perhaps ‘name your poison’ was filmed in Costello’s pub here in Skehana and in particular this was the setting for the ‘Speakeasy’. The filming occurred during the summer of 2015 and it had it’s first screening on TG4 on December 28th. 2015

Little would John Costello who established the licenced premises in the 1860s, or his descendants, have ever dreamed that almost 160 years later, that very same counter, fireplace and shelving would form the backdrop for a gangster movie, Deoch an Dorais, set in 1920s and 1930s New York, would was filmed in Costello’s, almost exclusively, Produced by Megamedia, Furbo, it sets about telling the true story of an Irish emigrant, Mike Malloy (1873-1933).

It examines the legend of Mike Malloy (nicknamed “Rasputin of the Bronx” or “Durable Mike Malloy”), an Irish emigrant to New York at the time of prohibition. Malloy was the unwitting subject of insurance fraud when a policy was taken out on his life by an Italian-American New York gangster and speakeasy owner, Tony Marino. However, despite repeated attempts to collect the policy by killing Malloy in a manner that would suggest a natural death – from poisoning him with drink and food, to hitting him with a car and dumping his soaking body overnight in freezing weather – Marino and his accomplices were unable to collect.

The documentary film is presented by All-Ireland winning Donegal captain Anthony Molloy (a distant relative of Durable Mike Malloy), who also reflects on his own struggle with alcoholism and the larger story of Irish emigration to the United States of which Malloy was but one of many examples. Incorporating contemporary footage of New York and interviews with a range of scientific and academic commentators (including historian J.J. Lee), Deoch an Dorais also includes reenactments of the events from the 1930s involving Malloy, Marino and his co-conspirators (including undertaker Francis Pasqua); the scenes in Marino’s speakeasy offer a convincing rendering of the period, with the lighting particularly impressive. Under Paddy Hayes assured direction, Deoch an Dorais is an engaging and thought-provoking account of an extraordinary story.

Raymond Tighe from Esker, Skehana, features as a support actor in the production.

Watch full film here – Runs for 50 mins.